Temporary adjustments to ELM agreements in the UK due to hot weather

The changes apply to participants of income-related agreements under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. This measure is strictly temporary and does not set a precedent for future periods. Adjustments may only be used by farmers whose lands are located in counties with official "drought" or "prolonged dry weather" status as designated by the Environment Agency. As of August 15, 2026, these conditions apply across the whole of England.

The relaxations cease automatically once the county's status changes to "normal". In this case, farmers must return to complying with the original agreement requirements. It is important to note that even when using the temporary rules, farmers must continue to fulfill other obligations, including statutory requirements for the protection of natural sites and species. Any activity on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) requires prior consultation with Natural England.

For reporting purposes, a specific temporary adjustment form must be completed for each ELM agreement and kept on file. If certain options or actions could not be established due to adverse weather conditions, a repeat attempt is not required in the current year; however, restoration is mandatory in the next season to continue receiving payments.

Separate rules apply to the creation of firebreaks. Farmers are permitted to clear or conduct ploughing on lands within ELM agreements if creating safety strips on other areas is not possible. The recommended width for such a strip is three times the height of the adjacent vegetation. When working on particularly valuable areas or land above the heather line, consultation with the authorized bodies is required.

In the event that planned activities have failed due to weather conditions, notifications should be sent to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) using the established email subject format, including the Single Business Identifier (SBI) and the scheme code.