Now most of the CAP reform rules are known in England, attention is moving towards the mechanics of actually making a claim under the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Whilst most people will know (and fear?) that a new computer system is being put in place, the scale of the changes have perhaps not been […]
DEFRA have unveiled their strategy for achieving TB free status in the UK. A total of 32,620 cattle were slaughtered as TB reactors or direct contacts during 2013. Owen Patterson has suggested unless a dynamic approach is taken we will see increased numbers of herds affected, a further geographical spread and a taxpayer bill exceeding […]
England Eligible beef and sheep farmers should have received their 2014 Uplands Transitional Payment (UTP). In the final year of the scheme, the RPA has paid 99% of the total value and 99% of the eligible applicants a month earlier than usual; £750,000 has been paid to 440 farmers. It is now focussing on getting […]
With large areas of the UK continuing to be affected by storms and flooding, support has been offered to farming businesses. Firstly, the major banks have pledged to offer overdraft extensions, mortgage repayment holidays, and fast-track loans. Farmers should generally contact their local manager to access support. The HMRC has also pledged its assistance. For […]
.We wrote last month about the launch of the consultation on the proposals for Glastir during the next RDP round. But land managers are reminded Glastir remains open for applications and Expressions of Interest. Those with existing woodland or wishing to create new woodland can submit Expressions of Interest (EOI). EOIs submitted for Glastir Woodland […]
Wales will have three regions under the new Basic Payments Scheme (BPS). This is one of the major decisions announced by the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies, on how CAP reform is to be implemented in Wales. The full document can be found at http://wales.gov.uk/docs/drah/publications/140114directpaymentstofarmers-decisionsen.pdf. Regionalisation and Entitlements The biggest decision for […]
A couple of administration reminders as we approach the end of the year. The Soil Protection Review (SPR) needs reviewing and updating by 31st December. Secondly, make sure any changes to the farmed area have been reported to the RPA in order for the Rural Land Registry (RLR) maps to be updated. Changes such as […]
Following on from the CAP consultation launched on the 31st October (see previous article), Natural England has released the fourth edition of its Scheme Development Bulletin. This gives more details of the new Rural Development schemes from 2015 and transitional arrangements for 2014. Transitional Arrangements Under Environmental Stewardship, ELS, Organic ELS and Uplands ELS are now closed […]
The Scottish Governmenthas confirmed that the main elements of the existing Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) will continue into 2014. As we have written previously (see July article), current Rural Developement schemes are due to end on the 31st December 2013. However, delays in agreeing CAP reform means that the replacement programmes will not be ready until […]
Latest figures from DEFRA show that 17,367 cattle were slaughtered as TB reactors, inconclusive reactors or direct contacts between January 2013 and June 2013. This is almost a 5% fall from the same period last year. In England 13,820 cattle were slaughtered while Wales saw 3,527 cattle killed and 20 in Scotland. New incident numbers also fell […]