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Farming: Whole Farm Approach

Harvesting cropsThe Whole Farm Approach (WFA) is designed to lighten the regulatory burden on farmers and growers in England. It offers a faster and more efficient way of doing business between government and the farming industry and over time will help reduce the number of duplicated requests farmers receive from Defra and its agencies for information.

These pages provide background on the programme and enable you to sign up for the WFA.

Whole Farm Approach - Latest

Releases on WFA in November included:

  • The December Agricultural and Horticultural Survey;
  • The December Pig Survey;
  • The ability of non-registered users to access the information and advice sections of the WFA website.

February 2009 saw:

  • The launch of the new Cross Compliance Self Assessment Tool;
  • Access to the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme through WFA.

March 2009 saw a pilot for SPS Online. This service was only open to invited users who helped to develop this function.

The summer of 2009 will see:

  • “Agent” access to WFA for farm secretaries and other farm business administrators;
  • The June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey.

The autumn/winter of 2009 will see:

    • BCMS’s Cattle Tracing System online accessed through WFA;
    • A Nitrate Vulnerable Zone self assessment tool.

    The new and improved Cross Compliance Self Assessment Tool

    The new electronic Cross Compliance Self Assessment Tool (CCSAT) enables you to quickly and easily assess your current farming practices against both the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) and the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) that constitute cross compliance.

    Additionally, the CCSAT provides you with an Action Plan, a Checklist, tailored Advice and Guidance and additional information to help you meet the requirements. By submitting the CCSAT you will be providing Defra and our partners with valuable information which helps produce better policy decisions for the farming sector.

    Using the Self Assessment Tool

    To access and begin using the CCSAT you simply enter your WFA account and click the tab marked “Farm Assessment”. This will point you to the ‘Cross Compliance Self Assessment Tool’ to get started. Upon entering, you will be required to answer a short set of Shaping Questions, a process which will tailor the Cross Compliance standards specifically to your farm. This means that you will only respond to the areas that directly concern you.

    Additionally, if you are a regular WFA customer, information you have previously supplied through other areas of WFA that cross over into cross compliance will be brought forward into your Shaping Questions meaning you will not need to provide the same information twice.

    As you progress with your CCSAT, an Action Plan and Checklist will be created along the way. Both provide you with useful hints and tips, documents, licences, notifications and other information to retain.

    The Action Plan will also highlight any areas you may need to think about in order to improve your farming practice.

    Each standard also contains further in-depth information sections to assist you. These come in the form of related websites, articles, documents and detailed advice and guidance.

    You do not have to fill in the whole Self Assessment in one go. You can save it, returning to it later for completion at another time. Additionally, you can update and submit your answers as often as you wish.

    Further information

    Contact us

    If you have any questions about the Whole Farm Approach, please see our Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Helpline team on 08459 335577, or by e-mail to wholefarmhelp@defra.gsi.gov.uk

    If you are a farmer who wishes to sign up for the Whole Farm Approach, please visit www.wholefarm.defra.gov.uk to take you to the sign-up pages of the site.

    Page last modified: 28 May 2009
    Page published: 11 November 2003