Remote monitoring is one of the ways we check that funded environmental actions are achieving the expected results. It helps us to understand what is working well and identify where farmers and landowners would benefit from extra support.
Since our last blog in November 2025 on How RPA uses remote monitoring technology to monitor environmental land management (ELM) agreements, we’ve continued to develop and improve this work.
Improving our monitoring capabilities
Over the last year, we’ve continued to improve our remote monitoring capabilities by introducing additional monitoring markers and enhanced analysis techniques. These improvements help us understand how agreements are being delivered and assess how environmental actions are progressing over time.
Turning information into support
These new analysis techniques will help us identify where agreements are progressing well, where additional support may be needed, and where further information could help us understand what’s happening on the ground. This will improve the targeting of farm visits, help resolve issues earlier and help manage your agreements successfully.
Remote monitoring may show that:
- an environmental action has not been established successfully
- a management activity hasn’t taken place at the expected time
- land/climate conditions which could affect the results an agreement is aiming to achieve
When we identify a possible issue, we may contact you to ask for more information or evidence. This helps us understand whether the issue has been caused by management challenges, natural events outside your control, or a failure to meet agreement requirements.
If remote monitoring and our follow-up review show that the agreement requirements haven’t been met, we will reduce or recover the payment.
Change of circumstances
If you’re unable to meet the requirements of your agreement due to a change of circumstances, it’s important to let us know as soon as possible.
For more information, follow the instructions in the relevant guidance for your agreement year and scheme on GOV.UK.
Looking ahead
We’ll continue to develop our monitoring capabilities as new data and analysis techniques become available.
Remote monitoring will remain an important part of how we oversee ELM agreements to effectively manage taxpayers’ money. Our priority is to support successful agreement delivery and make sure public funding achieves the environmental outcomes it's intended to deliver.
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