02 October 2019
The Government has announced proposals to introduce a ban on long journeys of live animals being transported for slaughter and to create a new forest in Northumberland.
There is due to be a public consultation on minimising live animal journeys "in due course", following recommendations made by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (renamed the Animal Welfare Committee with effect from 1st October 2019).
The new Great Northumberland Forest should see the creation of three new forests in Northumberland, with up to one million trees planted between 2020 and 2024.
Further details of the proposals are available on the GOV.UK website.
01 October 2019
Scottish Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2019 loan payments should begin to arrive in bank accounts from 4th October 2019, as confirmed in this Scottish Government news release. These National Basic Payment Support Scheme payments should be for 95% of the estimated BPS 2019 and greening payment value and will be issued to over 13,450 Scottish BPS claimants. Loan offer letters should have been received during September and it is still possible to accept a loan scheme offer. Further information is available on the Scottish Government's Rural Payments and Services website.
23 September 2019
A major independent review commissioned by DEFRA and led by Julian Glover has called for radical shakeup of the running of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website. DEFRA will now consider the recommendations made in the review.
20 September 2019
Farmers in parts of North Yorkshire and Wainfleet, Lincolnshire affected by flooding over the summer can now apply to the Farming Recovery Fund for grants of between £500 and £25,000 for a range of farm restoration work, including rebuilding dry stone walls, re-cultivating productive land and replacing damaged gates. Further details on how to apply are available on the GOV.UK website.
19 September 2019
The National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB have said that at least £2.9 billion per year is needed to support nature-friendly farming in the UK post-Brexit; just under the current CAP UK budget of £3.2 billion.
The charities said:
"For decades, farmers have struggled within the CAP’s food and farming system that delivers little profit for their produce and few incentives to deliver positive outcomes for the environment. Once we leave the EU and these payments stop, alternative policies will need to be put in place in each of the four UK countries.
"The revised figure published today provides justification for re-investing the current annual UK CAP budget to help farmers and land managers to restore nature and tackle climate change on their land, securing a sustainable future for farming and helping the UK Government and devolved administrations to achieve their own environmental ambitions."
16 September 2019
The Government is arranging Brexit Business Readiness Events across the UK to help you prepare, starting Monday 16 September. Join us at a free event in your area to meet government advisers and to find out what actions your business needs to take to prepare.
The events will combine a keynote address, interactive support, advice stands and in-depth sessions led by subject matter experts. They will provide you with specific business-focused advice and help.
Register to attend an event at: https://registration.livegroup.co.uk/brexitbusinessreadinessevents/
Further dates and locations will be announced as they are confirmed.
You can also view a typical event agenda and some Frequently Asked Questions at the address above.
09 September 2019
Following recommendations made in an independent review led by Lord Bew which was looking at what factors should be used to determine the distribution of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 'convergence' funding, the Government has confirmed it will allocate £56.59m of new funding. This should address concerns around the formula used to distribute this 'convergence' funding across the UK so that it rewards land that previously received less CAP funding per hectare than the EU average. The agriculture funding for 2020-2022 should therefore be increased in Wales and Scotland, with Scotland receiving approximately £51.4m. Further details are available on the GOV.UK website.
29 August 2019
We have been told that emails continue to circulate which claim to be from the CAAV, asking members to verify their details. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS - they are not from the CAAV. Please ignore and delete them.
Best Practice in Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
(Members Only)
27 August 2019
The CAAV's Kate Russell will chair a series of seminars on Best Practice in Compulsory Purchase and Compensation this autumn in Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, London and Manchester. CAAV members are entitled to a discount when booking before 9th September 2019 by entering the discount code CAAV820. Further information can be found at https://cptevents.co.uk/event/best-practice-in-compulsory-purchase-and-compensation-1
27 August 2019
There appear to be fake emails circulating which purport to be from the CAAV, asking members to validate their details for our database. These emails were not sent by the CAAV and members are advised not to respond to it. We recommend that members ignore the request and delete the email.