Defra now looking at capping SFI

[Steevo]

Is autumn subsoiling allowed before spring “direct” drilling?

Only if you plough it in September before leaving as an overwintered stubble.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I agree, like I’ve said before, everyone from the govt to Alan Titchmarsh have said farmers have to do more for the environment.
The govt are now saying “hang on, stop doing too much for the environment!”
It’s mental. It’s also telling that the likes of Monbiot, those Goldsmith tossers and Packham have been silent on this cap.
Why would they not be persuading the Govt that there should be no cap on ahl1, Ahl2, Ipm2 and the rest? It’s literally exactly what they’ve been calling for?

They want it done for free thats why

 

[Huno]

800ac farmer put the lot in in december before the 25% cap and has already had an inspection booked in for August. He's just about to start planting the covers on land where winter crops failed.

That farmer will get away with his plan without a fine... after that they will close the loophole... Inspection is just an excuse to close the loopholes.... They will close them... They are very slow and extremely useless.. hence the delay whilst they look into their political masters complaints!

 

[flywheel]

I thot thread said .Defra now looking at knee capping ...

 

[Huno]

I thot thread said .Defra now looking at knee capping ...

Only in Northern Ireland... This is England In England we prefer to let the farmers hang themselves or go to a penal colony of choice little changes in aristocratic circles🫣

 

[farmerm]

I dont agree.
Farms need to get smaller
Sfp and bps has driven farming and contract farming beyond optimal economic size
Hopefully labour party will rein it in.
More mixed farming and more people willbe the result.

How will the labour party rein it in? No we will see continued contraction with fewer and fewer, larger and larger producers. Mixed farming, that requires livestock and I don't know if you have not noticed but livestock farming is frowned upon in urban circles, both from the left and the right!!

 

[farmerm]

I’ve questioned this before but as I understand it you could start an agreement now including birdseed and you’d be OK leaving establishment until next spring. This would mean nearly a years worth of payments “up front” and also in the final year of the agreement the birdseed grown would be outside of the term of the three year agreement and so the delivered benefit wouldn’t be inspected. I can hardly see this kind of loose arrangement lasting long as it’s probably another DEFRA oversight. In defence of deferment of seed sowing until nearly 12 months after agreement start date, there will be a period of seedbed cleaning from post harvest this year until drilling the seed mix next year.

No need to clean up the seed bed, what remains is free seed for the next period.... weeds provide birdseed too you know That being said creeping thistle, spear thistle, docks and ragwort, I do try to keep on top of in my AB9, would be concerned by blackgrass too when it makes an appearance.

 

[farmerm]

I tend to think the start of payments should not always be when the agreement starts

I do think it would be more fair if aims should have to be delivered 3 times to receive 3 payments. I am all for squeezing the rules of SFI to the max but I think 3 payments when due to start/finish dates you get away delivering the aim only twice is not right... but then I am sure there will be others who disagree with the way some of us are implementing SAM2

 

[farmerm]

That farmer will get away with his plan without a fine... after that they will close the loophole... Inspection is just an excuse to close the loopholes.... They will close them... They are very slow and extremely useless.. hence the delay whilst they look into their political masters complaints!

but will they.... they are on course for a colossal budget underspend as it is, without making SFI any less attractive!

 

[Huno]

but will they.... they are on course for a colossal budget underspend as it is, without making SFI any less attractive!

Yes they will in an election year... nothing like making a few scapegoats in order to justify their wasted budget!!