The long awaited third round of the Countryside Productivity Small Grant Scheme is now open offering grant funding of between £3,000 – £12,000 for farmers purchasing equipment to improve productivity and efficiency. The grant scheme provides a list of eligible items and assigns each eligible item a ‘standard cost’. The grant paid is then based […]
Posted on October 7th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell
The extended areas have just been announced which are now eligible for the Farming Recovery Fund. What is it? The fund helps farmers whose agricultural land (that has been deemed eligible by the FRF scheme) was damaged by flooding we experienced in February 2020. The fund provides financial assistance with a minimum grant […]
Posted on June 19th, 2020 by Mike Cluley
Wildlife Offer Countryside Stewardship agreements provide a simplified scheme option for farmers with a set list of options under each Wildlife Offer type and provided the minimum requirements are met then an agreement will be offered. The aim of Wildlife Offer’s is as the name suggests, to support wildlife by providing sources of nectar and […]
Posted on June 9th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell
Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship is very similar to the old style ELS schemes. It is designed to provide environmental benefits at an on-farm level with a range of options that can suit most farming systems. What do Mid-Tier Stewardship schemes fund? Grant funding is available for land management practices which protect and enhance the natural environment, […]
Posted on June 8th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell
*** The deadline is fast approaching for 2020 Countryside Stewardship applications to be made *** Water Capital Only Grant: Contact to be made with Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer by 31st May 2020 Mid-Tier special options: Contact to be made with RPA by 31st May 2020 Mid-Tier application request: Application to be requested by […]
Posted on May 28th, 2020 by Mike Cluley
With the upcoming changes to the subsidy regime, now is likely to be a good time for many farmers to consider entering into a Countryside Stewardship agreement. From 2021, Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments will be starting to be phased out through to a complete phasing out by 2028 making this year the last […]
Posted on May 20th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell It has been announced today that the Farming Recovery Fund has been extended, enabling farmers affected by flooding to apply for grants of between £500 and £25,000 for restoring farmland. The scheme was already in place for farmers in affected areas that were flooded during 2019 with the scheme extension put in place to help […]
Posted on March 20th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell
In this blog Mike Cluley gives a very brief summary of the main points of the new Agricultural Bill that is passing through parliament so that consideration can be given as to what businesses should expect and the things that they should consider with the likely changes to future farm payments. Agricultural policy in the […]
Posted on March 4th, 2020 by Mike Cluley Despite the persistent inclement weather, spring is “technically” here and the BPS season is only just around the corner. Mike Cluley takes a quick look at the Basic Payment Scheme 2020 with a particular focus on what the options are to comply with the Crop Diversification rules under Greening given the consistent wet weather which […]
Posted on March 4th, 2020 by Mike Cluley
The application window for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) is now open. Successful agreements applied for this year will start in January 2021. With the impending payment reductions and phasing out of BPS from 2021 onwards, entering into the CSS may be a good option to assist with getting ready for the new world of […]
Posted on February 12th, 2020 by Mike Cluley