Farmers in England face losses under new cap on sustainable farming payments

Critics say the new policy opens up the possibility of some environmental work being undone. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Some farmers will lose money by opting into environment schemes under new plans to cap payments available for sustainable farming.

Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, said the new system is “fairer”, adding: “Too much of our most productive land was removed from conventional farming.” Farmers will be disincentivised from taking large amounts of their land out of food production and rewilding it for nature, under her plans.