This Week's Top News Bites
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Fancy Working for the TFA?
The TFA is offering a great job opportunity for a fulfilling role in an advisory capacity within our Head Office staff team. We are looking for a new team member to take up a one-year contract to work on the development of farm policy and to advise TFA members on how this will impact them. If you are interested in applying for the role, or know someone else who might be, please click here for the full job description. The closing date for applications is 17 May.
We Need Your Views on the DEFRA Farm Tenancy Reform
As many of you will have read in last week's TFA e-News, the TFA is seeking views from tenant farmers on the proposed changes, ahead of submitting its response to the DEFRA Farm Tenancy Reform Consultation. The survey should only take around 7 mins to complete and we would be very grateful to hear your views. You can complete the survey by clicking here. Also, you can read the DEFRA consultation document in full by clicking here and the Welsh document by clicking here.
The TFA will also be joining with DEFRA to hold two special consultation meetings in North Yorkshire on 3 June and in Kent on 17 June. For further details, click here for the North Yorkshire event and here for the Kent event.
TFA Cymru and Farming Connect Join Forces to Deliver Further Advice and Training for Tenant Farmers in Wales
This week, TFA Cymru and Farming Connect delivered free one-to-one advisory sessions for tenant farmers and seminars on rent reviews and dispute resolution. Further one-to-one free advisory sessions are planned for 20 May followed by seminars on top tips for applying for a tenancy and end of tenancy matters on 21 May. These will take place at the Glasdir Conference Centre, Llanrwst, Conwy. For more information or to book a place, click here.
All-Party Group Publishes Report on County Farms
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology has published a briefing note on County Farms following the discussion panel held on 29 April in the House of Commons, which the TFA was represented by our Chief Executive, George Dunn. Click here to read the report.
DEFRA Announce General Licence Consultation
The TFA is urging all members to share their views on how the revoking of General Licenses has impacted their business & livelihood. DEFRA haven't given us long to compile our response, so please email tfa@tfa.org.uk by Sunday 12 May. We will then include them in our response to DEFRA at the start of next week. More details can be found by clicking here.
RPA Drop in Centre Details
The RPA has once again opened eight of their regional offices (Cambridge, Carlisle, Crewe, Exeter, Newcastle, Reading, Worcester and York) to
receive BPS and CS application forms, CS and ES claim forms and supporting documents for all schemes. Centres are be open between 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. However, they will extend their hours on Wednesday 15 May from 9am – 8pm to satisfy demand on deadline day. To find out more, please click here.
In addition, the RPA customer helpline will be open on Saturday & Sunday this weekend between 08.30 – 14.00 for those with queries on either BPS, CS or ES applications. Please call 03000 200 301.
Expert Advice and Cutting Costs Through Farming Connect Fully-funded Clinics
Farming Connect is offering fully-funded clinics for Welsh registered businesses on a variety of topics. The Farming Connect clinics are a great opportunity for farmers to look at ways to improve efficiencies and productivity, as well as becoming more resilient in light of the uncertain future ahead.
Clinics are an opportunity for businesses to receive one-to-one expert advice, as well as review current practices and to assess their business, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, businesses are urged to book their slot as soon as possible.
For more information, contact your local development officer or to register with Farming Connect, call 08456 000 813. The deadline for applying for a clinic will be 31 July 2019.
TFA Farm Walks Announced
Further details of Farm walks in the Chester and Torpoint areas have been announced this week. The first will be hosted by TFA West Midlands Regional Committee Member, Keith Siddorn, on the 22 May, to book your place, please click here. More farm walks are planned across the country, dates can be found by clicking here.
Final Call for Tickets to Germinate Lecture 2019
The Germinate Lecture 2019 with George Dunn, TFA Chief Executive, is on Wednesday 15 May, between 10am - 2pm, at King’s Park Conference Centre, Northampton.
The theme for the event is: Salt, Light and Feet of Clay: Celebrating the ministry of lay people. Tickets are £20. Price includes lunch and refreshments. For more information click here. To book tickets click here.
And Finally, She's Only Gone and Done It!
Everyone at TFA towers are thrilled to share the news that TFA Adviser, Caroline Foot, successfully completed the Isle of Wight Challenge walk last weekend, raising a whopping £1120.62 at the time of publishing!
Walking to raise money for the Samaritans, Caroline completed the grueling 66 mile continuous walk around the entire coastal path of the island in 32 hours and 46 minutes. Speaking this week, Caroline said, "Raising this much money for the Samaritans is amazing. I’m really pleased. I’d say the first 50km were enjoyable, the next 30km were bearable but the last 26km were horrible! I had got a lot of angry blisters by about 60km and by the end they were very painful. I had run out of energy too, but I managed to shuffle over the finish line!" It's not too late to make a donation. Click here to support Caroline's efforts.
