As the UK leaves the European Union, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which for decades has dictated how and when farming support is delivered, will be replaced with a new UK agricultural policy which will see UK farmers, especially upland livestock farmers, facing a more challenging economic environment and a significant change to the way in which farming support is delivered. This study used a series of interviews with UK farmers across differing locations and categories to ascertain how levels of social capital may hinder or enhance a farmer's willingness to embrace future agricultural policy. We found that more conventional farmers who have never participated in agri-environment schemes and those currently in government-run schemes display high levels of bonding capital and low levels of bridging and linking capital which may hinder their ability to adapt to change. In contrast, farmers who embrace a pubic goods approach to land management displayed high bridging and linking capital and are more likely to work with government officials to adapt to policy change. Communities are more likely to become sustainable if they have access to government support and advice, and if relationships with other community members and stakeholders with an interest in rural communities, the natural environment and land management are encouraged and maintained.

随着英国离开欧盟，几十年来一直在决定如何提供农业支持以及何时提供农业支持的共同农业政策（CAP）将被一项新的英国农业政策所取代，该新政策将使英国农民，尤其是高地牲畜农民面临更具挑战性的经济环境，以及对农业支持提供方式的重大改变。这项研究对不同地区和类别的英国农民进行了一系列访谈，以确定社会资本水平如何阻碍或增强农民接受未来农业政策的意愿。我们发现，更多从未参与农业环境计划的传统农民和目前正在政府管理计划中的农民表现出较高的担保资本水平和较低的桥接和联系资本水平，这可能会阻碍他们适应变化的能力。相比之下，采用公共产品管理土地的农民表现出高度的桥接和联系资本，并且更有可能与政府官员合作以适应政策变化。如果社区能够获得政府的支持和建议，并且与其他对乡村社区，自然环境和土地管理感兴趣的社区成员和利益相关者的关系得到发展，则社区更有可能变得可持续。那些采用公共物品管理土地的农民表现出高度的桥接和联系资本，并且更有可能与政府官员合作以适应政策变化。如果社区能够获得政府的支持和建议，并且与其他对农村社区，自然环境和土地管理感兴趣的社区成员和利益相关者建立关系，那么社区就更有可能变得可持续。那些采用公共物品管理土地的农民显示出高度的桥接和联系资本，并且更有可能与政府官员合作以适应政策变化。如果社区能够获得政府的支持和建议，并且与其他对乡村社区，自然环境和土地管理感兴趣的社区成员和利益相关者的关系得到发展，则社区更有可能变得可持续。