Moving from CS agreement to SFI .

[Vader]

Great news! If that is the plan then we can all enter SFI in January 24?

Yeah but it's cost me at least 10 grand already not being able to switch...

Problem is they say more info in next few months...
Knowing defra could be end of summer...
So do you pack in now and hope can join new scheme in couple months, or stay in till end of year so get another years CS money, incase they drag their heels and don't let you in new sfi till autumn. Low cs payment better than no payment.

 

[barnfield]

So if you end your agreement early they won't reclaim any payments made up to 31 December 2023. But what if they only paid you last month (March '24) for the 2023 CS year.

Also, to end 2024 early do you have to gamble and not claim by 15th May? Or can you do the 15 May and then pull it once options are clearer in the summer.

@Huno have I you confused with someone else thought you were a massive SFI sceptic is that just because you couldn't get in?

 

[Huno]

Yeah but it's cost me at least 10 grand already not being able to switch...

Problem is they say more info in next few months...
Knowing defra could be end of summer...
So do you pack in now and hope can join new scheme in couple months, or stay in till end of year so get another years CS money, incase they drag their heels and don't let you in new sfi till autumn. Low cs payment better than no payment.

Yes.. it is a hard choice when their correspondance wanted you to forefeit all of your 2024 payments.. As ever.. first adopters being punished for doing the right thing... It really is a real mess isn't it?

 

[Huno]

So if you end your agreement early they won't reclaim any payments made up to 31 December 2023. But what if they only paid you last month (March '24) for the 2023 CS year.

Also, to end 2024 early do you have to gamble and not claim by 15th May? Or can you do the 15 May and then pull it once options are clearer in the summer.

@Huno have I you confused with someone else thought you were a massive SFI sceptic is that just because you couldn't get in?

SFI is still not fit for purpose but it is heartening that after 3 years the designers might see the "penny dropping" 3 bloody years!!

 

[Huno]

So if you end your agreement early they won't reclaim any payments made up to 31 December 2023. But what if they only paid you last month (March '24) for the 2023 CS year.

Also, to end 2024 early do you have to gamble and not claim by 15th May? Or can you do the 15 May and then pull it once options are clearer in the summer.

@Huno have I you confused with someone else thought you were a massive SFI sceptic is that just because you couldn't get in?

SFI would be fine if it was Fair for farmers as was BPS.... If the Civil Service had treated everyone and i mean everyone.. not just myself...equally on Day 1 then i would never have become a sceptic on a mission..
But they didn't...

 

[CiderJan]

I also got the transfer email today. Have gone back to them to ask if we can do it on a parcel by parcel basis - got some fields in likes of GS6, species rich grassland on priority habitat which pays well and there's no equivalent SFI option, so don't want to abandon that if possible.

It will be a ball ache but I fear we may have to take land out of midtier 1st Jan to enter SFI, but have application for a new midtier to start 1st Jan 25, just to cover those parcels. Then there's all the capital work I was planning on taking 2 years to finish but now not sure what I can do.

Removing specific parcels would be far easier in my mind but not sure RPA will agree.

 

[Huno]

I also got the transfer email today. Have gone back to them to ask if we can do it on a parcel by parcel basis - got some fields in likes of GS6, species rich grassland on priority habitat which pays well and there's no equivalent SFI option, so don't want to abandon that if possible.

It will be a ball ache but I fear we may have to take land out of midtier 1st Jan to enter SFI, but have application for a new midtier to start 1st Jan 25, just to cover those parcels. Then there's all the capital work I was planning on taking 2 years to finish but now not sure what I can do.

Removing specific parcels would be far easier in my mind but not sure RPA will agree.

I think i would write back to the RPA and ask for a delay to your decision to change scheme until after they publish the details of the combined SFI/CS 2024??

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

I also got the transfer email today. Have gone back to them to ask if we can do it on a parcel by parcel basis - got some fields in likes of GS6, species rich grassland on priority habitat which pays well and there's no equivalent SFI option, so don't want to abandon that if possible.

It will be a ball ache but I fear we may have to take land out of midtier 1st Jan to enter SFI, but have application for a new midtier to start 1st Jan 25, just to cover those parcels. Then there's all the capital work I was planning on taking 2 years to finish but now not sure what I can do.

Removing specific parcels would be far easier in my mind but not sure RPA will agree.

Just a thought , we are possibly ending our mid tier on January 1st & transferring to sfi , it’s probably prudent to apply & get accepted for any capital grants whilst still in the mid tier agreement I’d think .

 

[Huno]

Just a thought , we are possibly ending our mid tier on January 1st & transferring to sfi , it’s probably prudent to apply & get accepted for any capital grants whilst still in the mid tier agreement I’d think .

You will be made to pay them back if you leave mid tier and join SFI.. be very very careful NOT to do that if you hope to move schemes.. good luck

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

You will be made to pay them back if you leave mid tier and join SFI.. be very very careful NOT to do that if you hope to move schemes.. good luck

In that case we’ll probably just see out our remaining 18 months & then put the mid tier options into a new sfi .

 

[Huno]

In that case we’ll probably just see out our remaining 18 months & then put the mid tier options into a new sfi .

If you have lots of capital grant cash that would be a safe move

 

[Vader]

In that case we’ll probably just see out our remaining 18 months & then put the mid tier options into a new sfi .

We have no capital stuff, but wary of pulling out of cs, then they won't allow to join sfi till end of year and I loose a years CS.
They completely useless muppets. Can they not see we need fixed dates to plan, not vague thoughts..

 

[onthehoof]

Received today, potentially good news

 

[spin cycle]

roughly translated...
'we realise we shafted existing cs holders by breaking our promise...but if you'll just bear with us we're sure we can stiff you again come the autumn"

 

[Vader]

Received today, potentially good news

View attachment 1178480

Still no fixed dates though..

 

[livestock 1]

Whichever way you look at it they have either robbed the stewardship money or the bps money as it stands

 

[Stw88]

Received today, potentially good news

View attachment 1178480

Might as well not have bothered sending it, nothing we didn’t already know. Be better if they spent the time sorting the balls up that they have created out.

 

[True North]

It’s been briefly discussed on various SFI threads but has anyone been able to make any headway with RPA about transferring options from a CS agreement to SFI ?

Apparently I can't have a bird box on CS as i've applied for SFI for the grass so no, no headway for me. Warnings on everything and no-one at RPA will look or help me to clarify my application - awful sytem.

 

[True North]

I read today that the above will only apply to new CS agreements started on or after 1st Jan 2024 @spin cycle

Agreements started before that date will not be allowed to come out of CS and go into SFI but can apply for SFI for land parcels not covered by the CS agreement!

Complete mess

I cannot fathom either the system or the rules, it's so unclear and not user friendly. Been on the phone for hours...no-one wants to know.

I have applied for SFI and got that awarded - but now can't apply for bird boxes or walling on CS without warnings - no idea how to remove them and cannot get through to anyone without it being a day of a job on the phone nearly weeping down the phone.

 

[Princess Pooper]

I cannot fathom either the system or the rules, it's so unclear and not user friendly. Been on the phone for hours...no-one wants to know.

I have applied for SFI and got that awarded - but now can't apply for bird boxes or walling on CS without warnings - no idea how to remove them and cannot get through to anyone without it being a day of a job on the phone nearly weeping down the phone.

have you tried using the query function on RPA online to ask the question?

Sometimes you get a proper reply. (Sometimes you get a 'bot' sort of reply that is no help at all).