Farmers feel abandoned as thousands of contracts cut

Thousands of long-running Countryside Stewardship agreements are set to end in December, leaving farmers feeling abandoned. The agreements provide financial incentives for nature-friendly farming practices. Farmers like David Barton and Mark Meadows are concerned about the abrupt transition to post-Brexit environmental land management schemes. The National Farmers' Union is urging Defra to allow existing agreements to continue while developing a long-term plan.