News, information and updates

    *** 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 […]

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 […]

With less than one year left to benefit from Class PA permitted development rights Carver Knowles reviews the potential this has. What is Class PA? Class PA is a permitted development right that allows the change of use of a building from light industrial (Class B1(c)) to a dwelling house (Class C3). This right is […]

What is biodiversity net gain? The Environment Bill 2019 introduced the concept of Biodiversity Net Gain, which relates to the protection, preservation and enhancement of habitats. ALL developers will be required to deliver a 10% increase to existing biodiversity in respect of any new development. This can be achieved on-site, off-site or both. How is […]

As the Agriculture Bill passes through the various stages of Parliament we now have a better idea of the potential shape of the UK’s post Brexit agricultural policy. Despite a lack of specific details there are various items in the Bill that do offer a clear direction of policy, enabling farmers and landowners to start […]

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 […]

In order to assist farmers who are struggling to establish crops, DEFRA has confirmed today that the crop diversification greening requirement for BPS, commonly known as the “three crop rule” will not apply for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2020 applications.   Due to the nationwide catastrophic flooding and persistent wet weather throughout February 2020, farmers […]

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 […]

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 […]

Carver Knowles were thrilled to be sponsors once again for the Pershore Conference alongside Crowthers Accountants and Shakespeare Martineau. Over 150 local farmers and rural professionals gathered on the 16th January for the evening organised by Upton and Pershore NFU to listen to an excellent panel discuss the topic of ‘Zero Carbon Farming’. The evening […]