NWA Professional Autumn Newsletter

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER It’s been a busy few months here at NWA Professional since the Summer Newsletter was sent out. We have now sent off all 2018 Countryside Stewardship Applications and are waiting to hear about successful applicants for 2019.

In the meantime we found out that our latest round of LEADER applications have had 100% Success! Clients will receive significant grant funding for a variety of projects relating to animal health and welfare. LEADER grants have now unfortunately reached capacity, we can however, provide a service for those applying for other grants throughout the year.

Gillian Ellis, our Secretary, received a Long Service Award at Westmorland Country Show, presented by the Countess of Wessex. See more about this amazing achievement in our staff profile section featured in this newsletter.

BVD FUNDING

COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP PAYMENTS

Funding for the first year of BVD testing is now available to all registered cattle holdings in England. The funding covers 2 vet visits on-farm, including the price of BVD testing and can be accessed through your local vet practice. If you register with BVDFree, your herd can achieve BVDFree herd status once you have completed 2 years of negative testing.

75% of 2018 Countryside Stewardship payments will be made before 31st December 2018 whilst the remaining 25% will have been paid by June 2019 according to the RPA. We are aware some clients are still waiting for outstanding 2017 payments. These should be paid by 30th November.

If you have any queries over this please call: 015395 66222

BPS UPDATE The RPA will begin making Financial Discipline Mechanism (FDM) reimbursement payments from early October for the 2016 scheme year. The rate being used to calculate the FDM reimbursement payments is 1.310%. Once you have received payment you will receive a Remittance Advice from the RPA. Should you have any queries please contact the office on 015395 66222.

WASTE EXEMPTION REGISTRATION: ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS Some business uses require an Environmental Permit to treat, recover, store or dispose of waste. Some waste operations are exempt from needing an Environmental Permit and can operate under a Waste Exemption instead. Such activities include burning hedge cuttings or storing used plastic.

If you are a farmer partaking in these activities you will likely need to register for Waste Exemption. It is free and lasts for a period of 3 years. You may be asked to provide evidence of a Waste Exemption permit if you have a farm inspection.

It is an online process which can be done by anyone but, should you wish to have some guidance or assistance please get in contact on: 015395 66222.

To register for Waste Exemption visit: https://wasteexemptions.service.gov.uk/

BPS 2018 PAYMENTS EXCHANGE RATE SET The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed the exchange rate for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2018 payments made in sterling.

The rate will be €1 = £0.89281.

The previous years’ exchange rates for BPS were: BPS 2017: €1 = £0.89470 BPS 2016: €1 = £0.85228 RPA will make full payments on BPS 2018 claims from the beginning of December.

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AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

The Agriculture Bill BASIC PAYMENT SCHEME

ENVIRONMENTAL LAND MANAGEMENT SCHEME (ELMs)

The Government have confirmed that in 2019, BPS will be the same as previous years, with simplifications being seen from 2020 however, we are not yet sure of what these will be.

This new scheme will be tested in 2019 with pilot schemes running from 2021 to 2024 and it then being fully ‘up and running’ from 2025.

A 7 year ‘Agricultural Transition’ period will commence in 2021 which will see BPS being gradually phased out.

‘Public money for public goods’ is the main aim of ELMs with public goods paid for including:

From 2021, BPS payments will be capped, with all claimants seeing a reduction in payments as follows: Claim Value

Percentage Reduction

Up to £30,000

5%

£30,000 to £50,000

10%

£50,000 to £150,000

20%

£150,000 plus

25%

- Improved air and water quality - Improving soil health - Providing habitats for wildlife - Reducing flood risk - Preventing climate change - Improving public access - Maintaining drystone walls and other iconic landscape features.

PRODUCTIVITY MEASURES The reductions will be staged. For example, if your BPS payment in 2020 is £50,000, in 2021 you would receive £46,500 with 5% reduction applied to the first £30,000 and 10% reduction applied to the remaining £20,000.

The Agriculture Bill also talks about payments being ‘delinked’, meaning that there would no longer be a requirement to ‘farm the land’. This would allow for a golden handshake to be offered to farmers and if accepted they would receive a lump sum in exchange for them coming out of farming. This is hoped to enable changes in land occupation and farming structures as well as easing retirement and allowing an easier access route into farming for the younger generation and new entrants.

There will be targeted investment in research and development from 2021 to 2029.

Transitional support for productivity improvement is to run from 2021 to help build farming’s ability to mange risk, improve productivity and deliver public goods with investment in equipment and technology.

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE A higher animal welfare standard is to be defined in 2020.

Welfare pilots will run from 2021 to 2024 with final measures fully up and running thereafter.

With ‘delinked’ payments, this could mean that there will be no cross-compliance obligations associated with the payment.

SUMMARY 2019 – No changes to the scheme

ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

2020 – Some simplifications may be seen but no details as yet

Countryside Stewardship agreements, will remain available until 2024 however, the number of agreements accepted each year would depend on the development of the new scheme.

2021 – First year of reductions in BPS payments 2022 – 2027 – BPS will be progressively phased out.

2027 – Final year of BPS

SUCCESSION PLANNING Succession Planning is an area often overlooked by farming families and in a survey carried out by the NFU and Farmers Weekly, less than half of those questioned had a succession plan in place. Succession planning can be a mine field and a daunting task, but if you would like to start a discussion, please contact Kathryn on 015395 66215 who would be able to help.

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER WOODLAND CREATION GRANT

FOR SALE

A recent update has stated that applicants can apply for the Woodland Creation grant all year round. The grant is part of Countryside Stewardship and can cover up to £6,800 per hectare to support ground preparation, tree planting, fencing and tree protection and initial maintenance, plus an option to subsequently apply for a maintenance payment for up to 10 years, covering the initial period while trees get established.

LAND AT FOUL SCROW, CONISTON 66.00 ACRES/26.71 HECTARES OF ROUGH GRAZING LAND For sale by Public Auction on Tuesday, 30th October, 2018 in The Damson Room, The Exhibition Hall, J36 Rural Auction Centre

For more information or guidance on how to apply please contact the office on: 015395 66222

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LAND AT KELLET LANE, OVER KELLET 16.72 ACRES/6.77 HECTARES OR THEREABOUTS OF PRODUCTIVE MEADOW AND PASTURE LAND Sale by Private Treaty, price on application.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS IN READINESS FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS Greg Gilding in NWA Architectural has been busy over the summer applying for planning permission in connection with grant applications. Such applications include the roofing over of middens or livestock and machinery tracks and we have this year had a 100% success rate in obtaining planning.

If you are thinking of applying for a similar grant in next years round of stewardship applications, please be aware that planning permission is required prior to the submission of the grant application. Please contact Greg on 015395 66248 who will be able to help.

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HIGHER STANWORTH FARM, BOLTON ROAD, WITHNELL, CHORLEY

A DETACHED FARMHOUSE, BUILDINGS AND 83.44 ACRES/33.77 HECTARES OF MEADOW AND PASTURE LAND - AVAILABLE IN ONE OR MORE LOTS. For Sale by Private Treaty, Guide Price £1,350,000

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER SALE RESULTS

COUNTRYSIDE PRODUCTIVITY SMALL GRANT SCHEME

BARNS AT MUTTON HALL, KILLINGTON

DEFRA has confirmed that there will be another round of the Countryside Productivity Small Grant Scheme in early 2019. For more information, or to add yourself onto our list please contact either Emily on 015395 66227 or Charlotte on 015395 66223.

SOLD by Private Treaty, subject to contract.

STAFF PROFILE Gillian Ellis, receiving the Long Service Award for employment in the agriculture industry for 25 years. The Countess of Wessex presented the award at Westmorland County Show. Gillian is a valued member of NWA Professional and a long established member of the team.

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FIELD END FARM, NEWBY BRIDGE UNDER OFFER

Photograph by: Westmorland County Agricultural Show©

CONTACT DETAILS Michael Mashiter: 015395 66214 or 07713 787511 Kathryn Sayce: 015395 66215 or 07976 646035 Greg Gilding: 015395 66248 or 07969 994945 Emily Warin: 015395 66227 or 07973 852813 Charlotte Ormondroyd: 015395 66223 or 07528 026403 Megan Schofield: 015395 66213 General Office Enquiries to Gillian Ellis: 015395 66222

PLASTIC COLLECTION The next plastic collection dates are: J36: 7th November

We are just one phone call away or a knock on the office door at either of our sites. Our staff are always on hand to help with any query.

Lancaster: 14th November

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