LEAF has ranked its farmers’ sustainability for the first time.

On a scale of zero for ‘not started’ to three for ‘fully achieved’, they collectively scored 2.53 for economic performance, 2.57 for environmental quality and 2.13 for social health.

Economic performance and environmental quality had been at the “forefront of farmers’ minds”, whereas social health - including community engagement - required more focus in future, said LEAF Marque commercial manager Jeremy Boxall.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a charity whose member farmers abide by a set of environmental standards.