News

Sir Harry Studholme has been appointed as the interim Chair of the Forestry Commission. This role is to continue until 30th June 2013. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.

The RPA has made 2012 SPS Entitlements Statements available via SPS Online. They may be viewed even if the 2012 SPS claim was submitted on a paper SP5 form, although there are a "small number of cases" where the Entitlements Statements may not as yet be available due to ongoing work. Further information is available on the RPA website.

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has confirmed that the Government has reached a Coalition Agreement which will see the introduction of the Energy Bill next week. Further information is available on the DECC website.

The TFA has launched a dedicated service for tenant farmers in Wales. TFA Cymru will focus on representation and policy work in Wales. A TFA Cymru Recommended Professionals panel has also been established. Further information is available on the TFA website.

If you have not yet completed the 2012 CAAV Fees Survey, please send your responses in now! We will accept responses until Friday 9th November.

DEFRA has confirmed that the proposed badger culls in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset are to be postponed until summer 2013. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.

From 17th October, a new Government website GOV.UK will replace the Directgov and Business Link websites. This should not affect the use of services such as SPS Online or CTS Online which can be accessed via either the new GOV.UK website or the former Business Link webpage addresses. Further information is available on the RPA website.

Dr Emyr Roberts has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Welsh Government's new natural resources body. His appointment takes effect from 1st November 2012. Further information is available on the Welsh Government website.

The RPA has confirmed that the Euro exchange rate to be used for the calculation of 2012 SPS payments will be €1 = £0.79805 (SPS 2011 saw €1 = £0.86665). The rate is the last one set by the European Central Bank in September. Further information is available on the RPA website.

It has been reported in the press that the Badger Trust has lost its appeal against the badger cull in England. The rejection was unanimous at yesterday afternoon's Court of Appeal hearing. Further information is available on the BBC and Farmers Guardian websites....

Further to our news report yesterday, it now seems to be confirmed that David Heath MP was appointed yesterday as Minister for State for DEFRA, replacing Jim Paice MP. His ministerial portfolio is yet to be made available. Please see the DEFRA website for further information.

The Welsh Government has announced that Professor Peter Matthews will chair the new Single Environmental Body in Wales. This Body is to bring together the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission for Wales as a single organisation from 1st April 2013. Further information is available on the Welsh Government website.

The new CAAV Model Farm Business Tenancy agreement, plus a Commentary text and Check List, are now available to CAAV members to download from the website.

The RPA has confirmed that following the issues being experienced with CTS Online last week and the shutdown of the system over the weekend, it is now fully functional. Further information is available on the RPA website.