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Preparing for an Environment Agency Visit

May 2023

Have you recently received a letter from the Environment Agency about a potential upcoming inspection?

Following the recruitment of officers across the country many farmers will have recently received a letter from the Environment Agency regarding the likelihood of upcoming farm visits and inspections.

The letters, distributed across ‘target areas’ highlight 4 focus areas that officers will focus on during any inspections:

Slurry, Silage and Agricultural Fuel Oil storage (SSAFO regulations) Nutrient management planning and application records (Farming Rules for Water) Nitrate Vulnerable Zone records (NVZ) General farm recordkeeping

I have received a…

April Update

April 2023

Farming Investment Fund

The farming investment fund is made up of two separate funds and provides grants to improve productivity and bring environmental benefits. These are:

Farming equipment and technology fund (for grants between £1,000 - £25,000) Farming Transformation Fund (for grants between £25,000 and £500,000)

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund – Animal Health and Welfare Items

If you are wishing to apply for grant funded items under the Animal Health and Welfare Scheme the deadline if 15th June 2023. Submit your application online using the Animal Health and Welfare portal here Farming Equipment…

Available grants in 2023

March 2023

2023 Grants

Below is a brief summary of each of the grants available in 2023, which in total is providing £168 million of available funding.

If you require assistance with the following grants and competitions, feel free to contact us on 01380 724687 or email us at info@akcagric.co.uk.

Grants to Support Farming in Protected Landscapes:

Offered through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, grants are available to farmers located within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks, and the Broads.

These grants are available to support nature recovery, reduce impact of…

Basic Payment Scheme application window now open

March 2023

Apply now for 2023 BPS Payments

Applications for 2023 BPS to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) are now open. For this year’s rules and guidance to help you with your BPS application, click here.

Key dates for your diary 2023:

14th March – BPS applications open

15th May – Last day to submit your BPS application

9th June – Last day to make certain changes to your BPS application submitted before midnight on 15th May, without incurring penalties. This is also the deadline for late submissions, which will incur a penalty.

From 2024, RPA plan to start…

Animal Health and Welfare Review

February 2023

Interested in receiving a fully funded annual visit from your chosen vet or team of vets?

The Animal Health and Welfare review provides livestock owners the opportunity to receive bespoke advice from a vet of their choice on herd and flock health. Diagnostic testing on endemic diseases are also provided, ensuring the review is completed to each farmer’s specific health and welfare priorities.

To be eligible, your animals must be registered in England, you must be responsible for their welfare, and you must have one of the following:

New round of Farming Equipment and Technology Fund grants opening soon

February 2023

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, part of the Farming Investment Fund, provides the opportunity for farmers, foresters, and growers in England to apply for grants on specific items of equipment which help to increase productivity, environmental sustainability and improve animal health and welfare.

Contractors in these sectors can also apply.

Grant funding can range from £1,000 to £25,000 on items from a prescribed list.

Woodland Creation in the Cotswolds

February 2023

Did you know, you can apply for a free audit with the forestry commission to assess the opportunities and constraints of a potential woodland site on your land?

Last week, the AKC team visited a farm in Woodmancote, Cirencester for a farm walk, and discussion on the practicalities of woodland creation and a review of the schemes available to guide and support farmers in planning and managing a new woodland.

The farm, which is circa 1,050 acres is presently within a whole farm Countryside Stewardship Scheme and occupies 46 hectares of predominantly broadleaf deciduous woodland.…

ELMS Update

January 2023

DEFRA has announced new actions and payments relating to the Environmental Land Management Scheme, where something for all farmers/ land managers is offered, regardless of farm type, size, location, ownership, or systems implemented.

Actions paid for include ‘Standards’ on the following land uses:

Grassland Arable land Permanent crops … Read More

Additional funding available to improve productivity, sustainability & resilience

January 2023

The researcher starter competition will be launched at the end of this month and shall provide farmers, growers, and foresters the opportunity to apply for a share of £850,000 to improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

The first round of the competition was launched in October 2021, and it is designed to develop bold, collaborative, and ambitious ideas that help the agricultural sector reach net zero targets. So far, a range of products have been funded, from digital solutions for vineyard planning, to soil benchmarking and automated insect protein for poultry.

The competition is…

January Update

January 2023

Countryside Stewardship: Increased payments for farmers protecting and enhancing the environment.

Following a review, DEFRA have announced increased payments to farmers protecting and enhancing nature. This includes Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive Schemes.

Farmers with a Countryside Stewardship agreement (both existing and new) will see an average 10% revenue increase and for those businesses entering in to new capital schemes, capital payments will increase on average by 48%.

Sustainable Farming Incentive Payments will also increase to include a management payment for the first 50 hectares of £20/ha.

For more information,…

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