Are You Ready for Brexit?
Farming is Changing
DEFRA has published a booklet called Farming is Changing which describes the Governments farming policy in England after Brexit. Farming is Changing aims to remove some uncertainty and provides information that farmers in England might need to get ready for the coming changes, such as:
• phasing out direct payments
• changing how we work together
• changing rules and regulations
• grant programmes
The Farming is Changing leaflet can be found by clicking here.
Free Brexit Business Events
The Government is arranging 30 free face-to-face Brexit Business Readiness Events, right across the UK between Monday 16 September and Friday 18 October. Businesses can find out what actions they need to take to prepare for Brexit. The events will include support and advice stands and in-depth sessions led by subject matter experts. They will provide attendees with specific advice and help on how they can prepare their business for Brexit. To find out further information about the event and to book a place, please click here.
Welsh Government Produces No Deal Brexit Action Plan
Following the requirement placed upon the UK Government to issue its so-called "Operation Yellowhammer" no-deal Brexit document, the Welsh Government has taken some of the assumptions within the UK paper to produce its own action plan. It covers matters for which the Welsh Government has responsibility, including those of the farming community. It can be read by clicking here.
Preparing Your Farm for Brexit
The Welsh Government has created a page on its website which sets out advice for farmers across Wales about the steps that need to be taken to prepare to leave the EU. This page will be updated regularly. Please click here to be directed to the page.
This Week's Other News Bites
RPA FDM Payments
The RPA has set the English Financial Discipline Mechanism (FDM) rate at 1.346% and is aiming to have started the payment process by 16 September 2019. Every farmer who has a BPS claim value of over €2000 is eligible to receive this payment and is likely to have received this payment for many years. The purpose of FDM is to allow a small percentage of BPS payments over €2000 to be annually withheld, in order to create an EU crisis fund. If this fund is not needed, it is then refunded back to the eligible farmer the following year. TFA members who wish to learn more about what FDM means, and how to calculate the amount you are due, can click here.
DEFRA Survey for The Review of General Licences
DEFRA has launched a survey as part of its planned review of the use of general licences to manage wild birds in England. DEFRA has asked the TFA, as far as possible, to collate survey responses from its members. The survey can be accessed by clicking here and members wishing to do so should send completed copies by email to advice2@tfa.org.uk by Friday 15 November.
Farming Recovery Fund
Through June and July this year, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire experienced extreme rainfall causing flooding. As a result, the UK Government has confirmed that it will be providing £2m to assist farmers who suffered damage to their assets caused by either of the two floods of 10-12 June 2019 or 30 July 2019. The scheme will cover non-insurable items such as re-cultivation, reseeding, removing debris from agricultural land and reinstating field boundaries. Up to 100% of the works will be funded with a minimum grant level of £500 and a maximum grant level of £20,000. For more information, TFA members can click here to read the TFA Briefing Note E04/19.
Closing Date of Countryside Facilitation Fund is Approaching
DEFRA has launched the fourth round of the Countryside Facilitation Fund, which opened for applications on 05 August 2019 and will close 04 October 2019.
The scheme, administered by the Rural Payments Agency, has a total budget of £2.5 million for its fourth round. The amount of funding you receive depends on the number of holdings involved in the group and the work that you do. The RPA provides the following examples:
• with 4 holdings, you could receive up to £12,000 each year, which comprises £500 per holding and up to £10,000 for costs of delivering the cooperation,
• with 10 holdings, the amount could rise to £15,000 up to a maximum of £50,000 each year for a group of 80 holdings. All applications will be assessed for value for money through a competitive process.
For further information on this scheme, and how to apply, TFA members can click here to read the TFA Briefing Note A10/19.
DEFRA’s E-Alert System
DEFRA has created an email alert system to help farmers get ready for Brexit and inform them about news from DEFRA and Government initiatives. Categories range from animal health, welfare and farming to the environment to name just a few. To sign up for these emails, please click here. Input your email address and choose which categories of news you wish to be signed up to.
Prince's Countryside Fund Farm Resilience Programme - Opportunities for National Trust Farm Tenants
The TFA was instrumental in bringing the National Trust and Prince's Countryside Fund (PCF) together to provide opportunities for National Trust farm tenants to participate in the highly acclaimed and beneficial Farm Resilience Programme, operated by PCF. Four areas have been identified for these special groups – Devon and Somerset, the Peak District, the Lake District and Snowdonia. However, disappointingly, recruitment thus far to these groups has been incredibly low in comparison to other groups on offer by PCF. Other than providing funding and delivering a specific National Trust related session, towards the end of the programme, the National Trust is taking a completely hands-off approach and will not have access to any information or data generated within the groups. For more information, and to express interest in taking part, click here. Further information is also available from TFA Head Office.
TFA Organic Farm Walk
Over 40 members enjoyed the latest TFA Farm Walk this week, hosted by the Rider family near Devizes, Wiltshire. Jonny Rider spoke about his 600 strong organic, Pasture for Life, dairy herd which is milked once a day and fed on herbal pastures. We also visited his bull calves which are reared on nurse cows. TFA Adviser, Caroline Foot, also talked through the proposed changes to agricultural tenancy legislation and what those changes may mean to individual farm businesses. This is the final planned TFA farm walk for 2019. We already have a number in the planning for 2020, so watch this space. If you would like a farm walk in your area, please contact Julia Meadows, TFA Communications and Events Coordinator by calling 0118 930 6130.
Calling All Tenant Farmers in Mid and South Wales
TFA Cymru is pleased to be linking up once again with Farming Connect to deliver some specific seminars for tenant farmers in Wales. Following the successful events run in North Wales earlier in the year, events are being planned for 03 and 04 December in mid and South Wales. Further details will be available in due course. These will be posted on the TFA Calendar of Events which can be accessed by clicking here. TFA Cymru will also be holding a member’s meeting at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on the evening of Wednesday 06 November.
We'll Be Back Soon...
Our e-Bulletins will be taking a short break over the next two weeks while Julia Meadows is on holiday. In the meantime, please keep up to date with key news by following TFA on social media. Also, watch out for new TFA Briefing Notes published in the member's area of our website. Our e-Bulletins will resume with TFA e-News on Friday 11 October.
