The Scottish Government has stated that support under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) will continue into 2019 in plans laid out in its post-Brexit transition consultation. It would be paid at 80% of the current rates. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is to invest £2.6m in projects selected to "help meet the challenges identified under the four themes of reducing the risk from environmental hazards such as flooding and pollution; improving habitat management, biodiversity and connectivity; improving access to the outdoors and using the natural environment to support the economy and develop skills." Examples of the successful bids for this funding are given in NRW's news release....
The Welsh Government has announced that £2.15m funding will be made available from its £50m EU Transition Fund to support the development of the red meat sector in Wales to ensure farmers are "in a better position to trade profitably following Brexit". Please see the Welsh Government website for further details.
Andrew Sells, Natural England's Chair since January 2014, has announced that he will be retiring in January 2019. Further details are available on GOV.UK.
Water companies are being challenged by the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, to invest up to £5 billion in the natural environment from 2020 to 2025 under measures set out by the Environment Agency in the Water Industry Natural Environment Programme (WINEP). Further details are available on GOV.UK.
DEFRA has announced that £5.3m funding is to be made available over five years for four agricultural research centres to "help develop new technologies and environmentally friendly production for farmers and growers across the country". The four research centres that will be undertaking this work are the John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Research, University of Warwick and University of York. Further information is available on GOV.UK....
CAAV members trying to log-in to the Members' Area of the website should note that log-in details used prior to 24th May 2018 will not work following an update to operational aspects of the CAAV website in response to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 'Login' details are now handled automatically within the website and need to be reset if they have not already been since 24th May 2018. Otherwise you will be unable to access the Members' Area of the website. Click on 'Reset...
DEFRA has received over 44,000 reponses to its consultation, 'Health & Harmony' which closed yesterday (Tuesday 8th May). The consultation included proposals for the future for food, farming and the environment post-Brexit. Further details are available in the press release on GOV.UK....
DEFRA has announced that the Countryside Stewardship payment claim deadline is being extended to 15th June 2018. Please see GOV.UK for further details. CAAV members can find further information in the Members' Documents area of this website.
Following a vote in the European Commission, further restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides have been approved. Please see GOV.UK for further information.
With just over three weeks until the 15 May deadline for BPS 2018 claims, Alice De Soer from the CAAV gives some essential tips on applying for BPS 2018 in an article in this week's Farmers Weekly.
In this article, which has appeared in several online publications and local newspapers, the CAAV's Kate Russell explains the new energy efficiency regulations which apply to let property from 1st April 2018: Landlords: Check energy performance now, warns CAAV
Kate Russell, Policy and Technical Adviser at the CAAV, warns that farmers buying and selling land need to be prepared for increased security checks due to new regulations over money laundering in this article which appeared on the Farmers Weekly website on 12th April 2018.
CAAV Secretary and Adviser, Jeremy Moody, urges farmers to show they remain actively involved in the business when setting up contracting agreements in this article which appeared on the Farmers Weekly website on 13th April 2018.
Following the RPA's publication of new mapping information about hedges on the online digital maps on the Rural Payments service, Alice De Soer from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has given advice about how to deal with hedges for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Countryside Stewardship in 2018 in a Farmers Weekly article to appear in this week's edition. Further information can also be found in the DEFRA guidance on 'How to check and change your hedge information 2018'....
With the online BPS 2018 application window opening earlier this week, Alice De Soer from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has given some advice about applying this year in a Farmers Weekly article.
Prime Minister Theresa May is to meet with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, together with representatives from the Northern Ireland Civil Service, later today to discuss the EU exit negotiations and the EU Withdrawal Bill in relation to devolved powers. Please see GOV.UK for further information.
Following the opening of the online application window for the new Countryside Stewardship Arable Offer on 20th February, Alice De Soer from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has given some tips in a Farmers Weekly article about applying.
DEFRA is to launch its consultation on the future of agricultural policy in England today. The 10 week consultation will run until 8th May and will include proposals on: "redirecting" Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) money to a new system which will pay farmers and land managers "public money for public goods", with a focus on environmental protection and enhancement, as well as sustainable food production; supporting other public goods, including: "investment in technology and skills to improve...
DEFRA has announced that a 'collaboration' fund of £10m will be made available to farmers and small producers. This fund is part of a package of measures announced in the Government reponse to a consultation on the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, including: the introduction of compulsory milk contracts and a requirement for slaughterhouses to use a standard grid classification of sheep carcases. Further information is available on GOV.UK....