News

Harper Adams University Experience Day – 1st November 2023 As part of work to inform and encourage prospective recruits to the profession, Harper Adams is holding a day for 14 to 19 year olds to understand something of its land and property management courses and so professional work. Any member who knows someone who could be interested in this is asked to pass these details on so that they can book a place in good time. The Experience Day, free of charge, includes: Introductions...

The next round of Natural England's Nutrient Mitigation Scheme is to open at 10am on 2 October 2023. More information about the scheme, which is available to housing developers in the Tees Catchment Area, is available in a website note from July 2022. Credits for this round are priced at £2,300....

The Welsh Government has now announced the payment rates for the Habitat Wales Scheme: Habitat Wales Scheme: outline [HTML] | GOV.WALES. For more background on the scheme, see our website note of 31st August.

Homes England has published a Housing Information Hub, collecting up a series of guidance pages into one place. The Hub can be found here: Housing Information Hub - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

In his speech on 20th September setting out changes to net zero targets, the Prime Minister announced that grants made for the installation of heat pumps would be increased. The Secretary of State has issued a notice under Regulation 13 of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 that the grant will be increased from £5,000 for air source heat pumps and £6,000 for ground source heat pumps to £7,500 for both types of heat pump. The increase will become effective from 23rd...

The Government has broadened the eligibility criteria for the Animal Health and Welfare Review (for background, see our website note of 7th February). Farmers who have not receive BPS in the past - as well as those who have or expect to receive the Lump Sum Exit Scheme payment - are now also able to apply for funding for a vet visit and welfare report. More information on applying is available on GOV.UK: Guidance for farmers - Annual health and welfare review of livestock (defra.gov.uk)....

In an announcement today (Friday 15th September), DEFRA has confirmed that those with an open CS Mid Tier application, or those who have submitted an RLE1 form with the intention to apply, will have additional time to complete their application beyond the 15th September deadline. Some may be aware of ongoing tech issues with the CS application portal, meaning that some have been unable to complete and submit open applications. Those in this position should contact the RPA by email, including...

This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 15th September 2023 The end of September brings Michaelmas, for perhaps half the tenancies in England and Wales a key point, whether for rent review or termination. Its longstanding place in the agricultural calendar is shown by the persistence of the old Michaelmas date of 10th October with continuity from before the UK changed its calendar in 1752, alongside new Michaelmas on 29th September. Tenancies will start and...

Natural Resources Wales has published the dates for engagement events about the creation of a new National Park, based on the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB. More background to the designation is available in our website note of 6th June. Those working within the identified area are encouraged to participate in the designation process. More information is available on the NRW website....

Many will be aware that the roll-out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in 2023 was delayed; the scheme now opens on a staged basis from 18th September (for more information, see our website note of 29th August). Responding to concerns about cash-flow due to the delayed roll-out, on 13th September DEFRA committed to distributing accelerated payments for those who enter into the scheme this year. Those with a live SFI agreement before the end of 2023 will receive their first quarterly payment...

Applications have now opened for the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare 2023 grant. For more detail on the grant, see our website note of 27th July.

The payment rate for the Countryside Stewardship option top fruit organic conversion (OR5) is being increased from £1,254 per ha for up to 3 years, to £1,920 per ha for up to 3 years.