Farmers in stewardship schemes are now allowed to cut or graze extra land, Defra has announced.

The relaxation of rules are intended to help farmers provide food for livestock in the current drought.

Farmers in Countryside Stewardship or Environmental Stewardship schemes can now cut or graze additional areas of land to help ease shortages of bedding, fodder, grazing or forage crops.

The changes come into effect from today (Wednesday) and last until the end of 2022.

A full list of these easements has been published by the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) and includes steps, such as allowing ‘buffer strips’ and field corners to be cut early.

Guidance for farmers in hot and dry weather has also been made available to inform farmers how to record the adjustments they have made.

The new rules will help increase access to bedding, fodder, grazing or forage in ways that limit its environmental impact.

Forage crops are also being impacted as less silage is made and farmers are feeding stocks to their livestock now, instead of saving them for the winter months.

It comes as last week, the Environment Agency declared drought status for large parts of England, including the south west.

Paul Caldwell, chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency, said: “We know that farmers are facing pressures as they deal with the consequences of these exceptionally dry conditions, and we hope these practical steps will help farmers safeguard food production and help with animal welfare.

“We are committed to supporting agreement holders as much as we can during this difficult period and help ensure that they can maintain existing environmental commitments.”

The Environment Agency is working closely with farmers to support the industry and a package of measures to help with access to water has been introduced in order to safeguard food production and animal welfare without causing harm to the environment.

These include options for farmers to access water, including through the use of short term water rights trading between licence holders and allowing flexibility with abstraction licences where the Environment Agency can ensure that the environment and other users will be protected.

Where there is a real or imminent threat to crops and livestock, farmers should contact the agency to discuss availability of water.