FARMERS will be paid to help with the cost of sowing plants that can reduce the need for artificial fertilisers as prices soar, the Government has said.

Defra has set out measures to deal with the impact of high gas prices which have left farmers facing rising costs for manufactured fertiliser, due to the process depending on gas.

They include further details of the new “sustainable farming incentive” (SFI), part of the post-Brexit payments regime for landowners, which aims to help famers move towards sustainable farming.

The Government said it would pay farmers to help with the costs of sowing nitrogen-fixing plants and “green manures” in or ahead of their crops, as a substitute to some of their fertiliser requirements for the coming season.

This will reduce dependence on manufactured fertilisers linked to the price of gas, officials said.

Changes to the use of urea fertiliser that aim to reduce ammonia pollution from farms have been delayed by at least a year, and there will be new standards to limit pollution rather than a ban, to help farmers deal with supply issues.

And the Government has said it does not intend ban autumn manure spreading as part of rules to avoid water pollution, and is clarifying guidance on the regulations for spreading muck in the autumn and winter months.

New slurry storage grants will also be available to help farmers build six months of covered storage capacity.

An industry fertiliser roundtable will also be chaired by the Farming Minister, Victoria Prentis, on the issue and the pressures on farmers, and to come up with solutions, with the first meeting this week, Defra said.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “The significant rise in the cost of fertiliser is a reminder that we need to reduce our dependence on manufacturing processes dependent on gas.

“Many of the challenges we face in agriculture will require a fusion of new technology with conventional principles of good farm husbandry.

“The measures we have announced today are not the whole solution but will help farmers manage their nitrogen needs in the year ahead.”

Defra is also making £20.5m available for research and development to boost productivity and deliver climate-smart and sustainable farming.

Mark Tufnell, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: “Some farmers may choose not to spread fertiliser at all this year.

“But if prices continued to stay at this all-time-high then Government will need to urgently consider ways of increasing and diversifying domestic fertiliser production.”

He welcomed the news Defra had accepted the industry’s advice to allow the continued use of urea within an accreditation scheme, audited by Red Tractor, which he said gave farmers a greater degree of choice when purchasing fertiliser.

Dr Richard Benwell, chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link coalition of conservation charities and green groups, said: “The Government is right to bring forward measures to reduce dependence on artificial fertiliser.

“Investing in healthier soils and reducing reliance on chemicals is a triple win.

“It will help steady food production costs in the short term, it will ensure farms stay productive in the future, and it will cut pollution that blights our rivers and streams.

“Some argue more intensive farming is needed to counter pricing pressures, but this crisis should convince Government to stick to its path and up the pace in delivering its promise of a more sustainable English farming system.”