CAAV adviser, Alice De Soer, joined an expert panel on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today programme at the weekend to discuss 'Five weeks until Brexit'. The programme covered trade, labour and farming subsidy issues. To listen, please go to the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today webpage (Alice's contribution relating to farming subsidies starts at around 14 minutes).
New Natural Capital Accounts research published by Natural England today shows that National Nature Reserves (NNRs) provide £36 million of benefits to society. The report includes an extended balance sheet which gives an evaluation of "NNRs as natural assets, as well as demonstrating the ecosystem services, benefits and value they provide to society." Further details are available on the GOV.UK website where there is also a link to the report....
The full transcript of the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove's, speech delivered to the NFU Conference yesterday is available on GOV.UK. In the speech, he stated that: "We have to do better in the delivery of countryside and environmental stewardship payments. They are still in a mess, the consequence partly of historic IT procurement decisions and the split responsibility for scheme administration between Natural England and the RPA, which led to inefficiency and confusion." He also...
With the application window opening earlier this week for key elements of Countryside Stewardship, Alice De Soer (Policy and Technical Adviser at the CAAV) gives tips for farmers and land managers considering applying this year in this article on the Farmers Weekly website.
Northern Ireland's Department for Communities has published the 3rd report under the Protocol for the Care of the Government Historic Estate, which sets out case studies for the conservation of historic buildings and other assets, and their future use and management. The report can be downloaded from the Department for Communities website.
The NFU has published The Future of Food 2040, a report which examines how changing trends on what we eat and how we eat it will affect farmers and growers in the UK. The report can be downloaded from the NFU website.
Key elements of the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme have opened for applications today (18th February). They include:- Higher Tier; Mid Tier; the 4 Wildlife Offers; and the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grant Application packs for Mid Tier can be requested online via the Rural Payments service by 31st May 2019. Higher Tier application packs must be requested by 31st March 2019 by phoning the RPA (03000 200 301). The 4 Wildlife Offers and the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital...
The Scottish Government has announced that a new Rural Economy Action Group is to be set up to ensure that rural policy is embedded in decision-making and to promote the rural economy. Further detail is available on the Scottish Government website.
The Scottish Government has announced details of a series of free to attend training and networking events, for all local authority staff and members of SCPA, RICS, SOLAR and ACES, on the subject of “Delivering a Successful Compulsory Purchase Project”. The training dates will be held at the following : Perth 4th March 2019 @ Perth and Kinross Council City Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH Edinburgh 25th March 2019, Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ...
The first year of the Scottish Biodiversity Challenge Fund (BCF) has been launched, with up to £1 million of funding available for 2019/20. The funding is to support 'large-scale' projects to improve habitats, protect species and encourage increased access to nature. Scottish Natural Heritage is looking for 'innovative ideas' and has published a News Release around the launch of the fund. Further information about the BCF can be found on Scottish Natural Heritage's website....
Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, has confirmed that nationally-funded loans of up to 90% of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) 2018 payment values are to be made available to eligible claimants, with payments starting April 2019. Loan offer letters should start to be sent from 1st March. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website....
The Institute of Agricultural Management's National Farm Management Conference 2019 will take place in London on 13th February 2019. Fellows of the CAAV are offered the IAgrM member rate to attend - a saving of £60. Simply complete the booking form as if you are an IAgrM member. Details and a booking form are available on the IAgrM website at https://www.iagrm.org.uk/events/ The conference attracts BASIS and NRoSO points....
The RPA has confirmed that 93.4% of BPS 2018 claimants received a payment by 31st December 2018. This equates to 78,787 claimants with a value of over £1.57 billion. Further information is available on GOV.UK.
Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, has announced two initiatives to streamline the foresty grants process during a debate today in the Scottish Parliament on Future Rural Policy and Support in Scotland. The initiatives are:- 1) to review the current process for forestry grant applications; and 2) to review the Forestry Grant Scheme to allow more "small landowners" to access financial support for tree planting and woodland creation. Further information is available on the...
The Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has announced that £5m of Rural Development Programme funding is to be made available to help eradicate sheep scab in Wales. A news release is available on the Welsh Government website.
The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, has delivered a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference 2019. The full text of the speech is available on GOV.UK.