What's New

The Environment Bill is now entering its final Parliamentary stages. The first day of the Report stage was held in the House of Lords yesterday, including discussion of soils. An opposition amendment requiring that a soil health target be set was passed. During the debate, Lord Goldsmith spoke on behalf of the Government. Some of his comments are extracted within this note. It remains to be seen whether the Government might overturn the amendment when the Bill returns to the House of...

This note reviews the recently published Programme for Government for 2021-22, and pulls out the key agricultural and environmental policy announcements and plans.

This note summarises the proposed health and social care levy.

NIE Networks Ltd have published their wayleave rates, taking effect from 1 August 2021.

The CAAV model Farm Business Tenancy for Wales (for an initial term of more than 2 years) has been updated with some housekeeping changes. The template is available here as Word document (CAAV Model FBT Wales 0921 V1 4) with the previous edition as a pdf document showing the tracked changes. The model agreement is offered to members to adapt and modify to record the actual business agreement between owner and farmer and to suit the individual circumstances. Such adaptation is a matter for the...

The protection of business tenants from eviction in Wales is extended until 25th March 2022 by The Business Tenancies (Extension of Protection from Forfeiture etc.) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (WSI 2021/952 (W.217).

The Welsh Government has further extended the ban on evictions of business tenancies from 30th September 2021 until 25th March 2022. Find more detail in the press release.

DEFRA has announced the awards from the first round of the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme. Projects in areas including the South West, Lancashire and Cumbria and Greater Manchester have received over £16 million for peatland restoration. This is a first step to meeting the Government's target of restoring 35,000 ha of peatland by 2025. Currently, Discovery Grants available for organisations to scope sites and develop plans for peatland restoration, and the second round of...

DAERA has issued a reminder that the Forest Expansion Scheme closes on 31 August 2021. This scheme provides grant support for new woodland panting of 3 hectares or larger. Full details of the scheme, as well as other woodland grants, can be found on the DAERA website.

This note reviews the recently published agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, a Shared Policy Programme for Government; the appointment now of the Agricultural Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB); and the opening of an initial consultation on future policy - Agricultural Transition in Scotland – The First Steps Towards our National Policy.

This note reviews the recently published Future Agricultural Policy Framework Portfolio for Northern Ireland. This document lays out the planned framework for future support payments in Northern Ireland. A consultation on detailed proposals is forthcoming.

This note sets out briefly the details of a recent round of BEIS grant funding for innovation in biomass feedstocks.

Farmers in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire can attend free workshops and one-to-one advice sessions, covering a range of IT topics, such as new software, hardware, use of social media, online marketing and websites. Offered as part of Fastershire's Business Support Programme, 'Faster Farmers' is one of the initiatives linked with the rollout of cable broadband in the area.

The Welsh Government has made an announcement that they seeking views on council tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties and non-domestic rates for self-catering accommodation. Find the consultation here and see also the written statement. The deadline for the consultation is 17th November 2021....

DEFRA have opened a consultation into proposals for the future release and management of beavers in England. The consultation aims to establish a framework to allow beavers to be reintroduced into the wild, provided project proposals meet certain criteria. The consultation is open to members of the public and runs until 17 November 2021. It can be found here....

The Welsh Government has announced that the £2million Farm Business Grant Window will open to applications in September 2021. The grant will be available for farmers to invest in new technology and equipment to improve their technical, financial and environmental performance. See the Welsh Government website for more detail.

This note summarises the Environment Agency Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 252 on Farming Rules for Water - Spreading Organic Manure on Agricultural Land.

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation, reviewing the way licence holders are charged to abstract water from the environment, to safeguard water supplies. See the press release here.

The Government has published a consultation on The Central List for the 2023 Business Rates Revaluation. The deadline for responses is 11:45pm on 8 November 2021.

The Welsh Government is consulting on the Draft Valuation for Rating (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021. The consultation deadline is 27th September 2021. It is accompanied by a written statement by Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government....

The Welsh Government has launched The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG), a new scheme part of the National Forest for Wales Programme. The grant will provide financial support for people to: create new woodlandsmake improvements to existing woodlands which meet the standards of the National Forest. The window for application opened on 14th July and runs until 27th August 2021. The Welsh Government has published questions and answers from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) Live Event held on...

This note sets out the details of the Farm Business Review Package published by AHDB.

This note sets out the joint policy response on animal welfare and transport published by DEFRA and the Welsh Government. This is to be taken forward in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill now in Parliament.

A consultation has been launched on the Welsh Agricultural Pollution Regulations. The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee is gathering views on The Welsh Government’s agricultural pollution regulations. Find the full details of the consultation here. The deadline for the consultation is 10th September 2021.

This note continues our series exploring the working Biodiversity Metric 3.0. It contains detail on the relative position of hedgerows and lines of trees within the Metric.

The Agriculture Act 2020 inserted a new s.19A into the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 enabling a tenant to: - challenge a landlord’s refusal of consent or conditions for consent - seek to vary the terms of tenancy agreement where this is either to: - have access to a financial assistance scheme under the Agriculture Act (such as one of the environmental land management schemes) or - to meet a legal obligation The legislation encourages prior discussion between tenant and landlord but if...

The CAAV model Farm Business Tenancy for England (for 2 years or less) has been updated with effect from 10th August 2021. The new version is attached as a Word document, as well as the previous edition as a pdf document showing tracked changes. The model agreement is offered to members to adapt and modify to record the actual business agreement between owner and farmer and to suit the individual circumstances. Such adaptation is a matter for professional judgment of the member for which the...

The CAAV model Farm Business Tenancy for England (for an initial term of more than 2 years) has been updated with effect from 10th August 2021. This version has been created as a result of developing policies in the Agriculture Act 2020, the perspective changes of the Environment Bill and other changes, as outlined in the accompanying 'Commentary' document. The template is available here as Word document (CAAV Model FBT V9 06 08 21 Final) with the previous edition as a pdf document showing the...

On 9th August Working Group I of the IPCC published its contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), on the physical basis for climate change. This note offers an overview of the findings.