This What's New section is a quick one-stop shop to show you the most recent additions to the Members Area (log-in required) and News items.
The Welsh Government Small Grants - Yard Coverings scheme is now open for applications. Guidance notes on the scheme, booklet, and how to use RPW Online to apply are available.
The March 2024 edition of the CAAV News Letter is attached
DEFRA has published today (21st May) the detail of the ‘expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive’, which is to open for applications in July. This note sets out the headline announcements.
A recent dismissal of an appeal by the planning inspectorate (ref. APP/D1265/W/23/3314801) provides an interesting parallel for the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) in England. This note looks at the relevant section of the published decision.
This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 16th May 2024 The fruit and vegetable sector is a strong contributor to the value of UK agricultural output. It has been under severe economic pressure as costs, risks and necessary working capital have risen well ahead of produce returns. Weather and labour add to the challenges. Production volumes, areas and confidence have all fallen. It is clearly magical thinking to suggest that saying the British public ought to eat...
In a Written Statement to Parliament, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has outlined policy on balancing food security and energy security in the planning consideration of large rural solar farms. This note provides an overview.
The CAAV Fees Survey Report 2023 is now available. This can help inform members and others about developing fee rates and is referred to as an objective overview by members and compulsory purchase acquirers when looking at fee structures and hourly rates.
As many will be aware, the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive in England will be opening this summer. The RPA will be offering a controlled rollout of the scheme to a limited number of people before the scheme opens to all applicants. This small number will be able to apply for the scheme early so that the RPA can open the service in a controlled way. They will also be asking these early applicants about their experience of submitting an application, so that they can improve the service in...
A set of announcements, largely for England, has been issued in conjunction with the second No 10 Farm to Fork Summit hosted by the Prime Minister on 14th May. This note provides an overview.
The RPA has introduced a set of temporary adjustments for those who have had difficulty meeting the requirements of their CS, ES, SFI and SFI pilot agreements due to wet weather. The full list of options and actions with temporary adjustments is available here: Wet weather: temporary support for farmers in 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This note provides a short overview....
Many will be aware that there are significant delays in the creation and submission of annual claims for Countryside Stewardship. The RPA is encouraging agreement holders to continue to with their claims. They have advised us that: 'We will make sure that those affected are not disadvantaged. We will keep a record that the system performance has affected their ability to claim and they won’t receive any late claim reductions if we receive their claim after 15 May because of this.' Those...
The recently appointed Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, today told the Senedd that, after seeing a draft of the analysis of over 1,200 consultation responses “it is already clear that some changes are needed” to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) proposals. That analysis and the government response to the consultation are to be published in June. This note provides more detail....
This article by Jeremy Moody first appeared in the CAAV e-Briefing of 9th May 2024 Land drainage and the management of water offer one of the ways to tell the story of our landscapes as millennia of hard work have made a wet land productive. Even now, for many soils having good field drainage is the precondition for land to give its potential – becoming more important with the spread of no-till practices. With 40 years since the last major wave of drainage investment, this winter has shown...
HMRC has now issued the Revenue and Customs Brief – VAT Treatment of Voluntary Carbon Credits with guidance to take effect from 1st September 2024, applying to transactions involving voluntary carbon credits on or after that date. This note provides more detail....
Those preparing to submit a claim for CS or ES in 2024 are reminded that the land use codes for the relevant parcels should be updated where there have been changes.
Following the announcement last week of two schemes to specifically support investment in on farm infrastructure (see our note), this note sets out more detail of the two slurry schemes being offered by Welsh Government.
Updated to V.6.1 on 7th May 2024 The RPA has prepared a Sustainable Farming Incentive Q&A document, addressing some common questions about both the general nature of the scheme and some action-specific issues. The RPA's intention is to provide a common understanding of the purpose and requirements of aspects of the scheme. This is to be a 'living document'; it will change as new questions and issues arise and so should not be taken as a fixed and definitive guide. It should also be read in...
This note sets out unit fertiliser values for Spring 2024 for use in connection with end of tenancy valuations.
Ahead of a statement due on 14th May, the new Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca Davies, has made a written statement to the Senedd on the next steps for the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), this note provides a summary.