CAP Reform: Dual use will continue to be allowed in 2015
Farmers and landowners in England with Environmental Stewardship agreements will be able to maintain their existing dual use arrangements in 2015. The Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) External Relations Director Arik Dondi, said: “This decision, announced this week, covers all existing Environmental Stewardship agreements, including those remaining to be signed up this year, and means the […]
Scottish farmers at a loss over Greening delays
Unnecessary delays by the Scottish Government have put Scottish farmers at an extreme disadvantage over greening rules for the next two years, according to a leading rural land expert. Mark Mitchell, Director of rural land management at Bell Ingram, said Scottish Government ‘took their eye of the ball’ in failing to complete the necessary negotiations […]
RPA unveils ‘extra help’ to get farmers online for BPS
Farmers applying in 2015 for the new BPS, which replaces the current Single Payment Scheme (SPS), will need to use the new Common Agricultural Policy Information Service – an online system which is designed to be as simple, affordable and effective as possible. Letters go out this week to 13,000 carefully selected customers whom RPA […]
RPA switches to 0345
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is switching from its 0845 telephone number prefix to 0345 as part of a government-wide approach to move away from higher-rate numbers. The new number is already working and people are urged to start using it. The switch affects the phone numbers for the RPA’s customer service centre; the Procedure […]
Vital greening advice available for farmers at Tillage Live 2014
Farmers attending the Tillage Live 2014 agricultural event in Gloucestershire next week can talk with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) experts on how new European ‘greening’ environmental measures will affect them. The latest Defra Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) leaflet is available at the event, held at the Down Ampney airfield near Cirencester on Wednesday 10 September. […]
Lloyds Bank Agriculture in new 3-year commitment to Prince’s Countryside Fund
Lloyds Bank Agriculture has announced its intention to commit substantial funding over the next three years to rural charity The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Set up by HRH The Prince of Wales, the Fund supports the multitude of organisations and individuals working to keep farmers in business and rural communities alive. Helen Aldis from the Fund’s […]
Guidance on CAP compliance for cereals and oilseeds growers
Defra has released important information on how the new Common Agricultural Policy will be implemented in England, including how the new ‘greening’ requirements will work in practice. Of particular interest to cereal and oilseeds growers will be clarification of the rules around crop diversification and ecological focus areas (EFAs). Full details of all changes are […]
New details on CAP implementation announced
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has today announced further details of what the new CAP greening rules will mean for English farmers, whilst calling on the EU to provide urgent clarity on the outstanding issues and review the three crop rule. The new guidance aims, within the constraints set by Brussels, to be as simple and […]
Welsh Farmers reminded of changes to CAP payment system
Farmers in Wales will have recently received a letter from the Welsh Government reminding them that, from January, their direct payments will be made through the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The new BPS will replace the Single Payment Scheme and will include a new ‘greening’ requirement aimed at protecting the environment and will provide extra […]
