Sustainable Farming Incentive Deadline Looming

Rob Garrett · Aug 23, 2021

Rob Garrett said:
Today's job is fill out the application. Looking through the standards & payments it's total pants & too bloody completed.

But it's a PILOT, so looking forward to giving DEFRA feedback & being paid for it!

That's disappointing! Works out £126 p.a. less than my outgoing CS, only with a lot more pointless paperwork (nutrient mgt. plan/budgeting, soil mapping etc), more land out of production & more restrictions!

Would have been better with a mirrored CS agreement, hay ho

chaffcutter · Aug 23, 2021

Been onto RPA SFI helpline today about the lack of detail to help fill in the application re Hedgerows. Can we use the measurements shown on our Land details for length of hedges? Don't know. When adjoining fields show a measurement for the same hedge, what do we do? Don't know. How do we distinguish between having both sides of the hedge or only one side? Don't know. No box for that,
Their advisers they ask are offline today, supposed to call back or enmail me.

Best news for some is that they have extended the deadline for applications until 29th September, I think they are frit that they wont get enough uptake unless they change payment levels and make it clearer how to apply for a lot of the options.

Jon 2166 · Aug 23, 2021

Agree with all of the above comments. Glad it’s not just me. Also paying for outcomes is a bit of a gamble. I assume if the management plan you genuinely put it place does not work because of all the usual reasons, weather etc., they will want that money back?
Have emailed DEFRA asking for advice to complete the pilot application, heard nothing back! Yes, I did check my spam box!

Mixedupfarmer · Aug 23, 2021

chaffcutter said:
Been onto RPA SFI helpline today about the lack of detail to help fill in the application re Hedgerows. Can we use the measurements shown on our Land details for length of hedges? Don't know. When adjoining fields show a measurement for the same hedge, what do we do? Don't know. How do we distinguish between having both sides of the hedge or only one side? Don't know. No box for that,
Their advisers they ask are offline today, supposed to call back or enmail me.

Best news for some is that they have extended the deadline for applications until 29th September, I think they are frit that they wont get enough uptake unless they change payment levels and make it clearer how to apply for a lot of the options.

Everyone just pull out and tell them to come back with workable rules and better payment rates.

E_B · Aug 23, 2021

chaffcutter said:
Been onto RPA SFI helpline today about the lack of detail to help fill in the application re Hedgerows. Can we use the measurements shown on our Land details for length of hedges? Don't know. When adjoining fields show a measurement for the same hedge, what do we do? Don't know. How do we distinguish between having both sides of the hedge or only one side? Don't know. No box for that,
Their advisers they ask are offline today, supposed to call back or enmail me.

Best news for some is that they have extended the deadline for applications until 29th September, I think they are frit that they wont get enough uptake unless they change payment levels and make it clearer how to apply for a lot of the options.

I added up all the hedges over 20m on the land maps, minus any you want to trim every year, ie next to houses etc, then halved the metreage for any that I don't have control of both sides for. Seemed the safest way to do it.

Jon 2166 · Aug 23, 2021

Yes,
I’ve pulled out even thought I think the scheme is looking in the right direction. Sort out the rules and the money. Best if everyone pulled out and let them rethink.

holwellcourtfarm · Aug 23, 2021

If this thread is indicative then it's not looking good......

The responses seem to be mostly:
- Too bureaucratic
- Not enough money

The first one is indicative of the DEFRA mindset.

The second is indicative of the fact only 30% of the whole subsidy budget is allocated for the full roll out of SFI (with the rest for LNR, LR and bureaucracy).

Mixedupfarmer · Aug 23, 2021

holwellcourtfarm said:
If this thread is indicative then it's not looking good......

The responses seem to be mostly:
- Too bureaucratic
- Not enough money

The first one is indicative of the DEFRA mindset.

The second is indicative of the fact only 30% of the whole subsidy budget is allocated for the full roll out of SFI (with the rest for LNR, LR and bureaucracy).

Then concentrate what money is available at high payment rates to buffer water/ hedges / trees. Protect the environment and create wildlife corridors. Farms will move to direct drilling, cover crops, etc as economics dictate. Defra don’t have the budget to do all they want, and risk achieving nothing.

Wombat · Aug 23, 2021

Mixedupfarmer said:
Then concentrate what money is available at high payment rates to buffer water/ hedges / trees. Protect the environment and create wildlife corridors. Farms will move to direct drilling, cover crops, etc as economics dictate. Defra don’t have the budget to do all they want, and risk achieving nothing.

Yup at current prices you just have to push for another tonne a hectare and you have no one to answer to.. guess which i am going to try and do based on the info i have available.

Jon 2166 · Aug 23, 2021

DEFRA have not increased the budget in nearly 30 years. In real terms the budget has declined. Look back at your APPS, BSPS, SAPS and SCPS payments. We have been providing public services for the good of the tax payers, cheap food. I don’t disagree with environmental measures and helping to reduce carbon emissions but these measures cost much more than the money that is being offered. They should be realistic and increase the budget. After all, it is meant to be a priority?

steveR · Aug 23, 2021

Jon 2166 said:
DEFRA have not increased the budget in nearly 30 years. In real terms the budget has declined. Look back at your APPS, BSPS, SAPS and SCPS payments. We have been providing public services for the good of the tax payers, cheap food. I don’t disagree with environmental measures and helping to reduce carbon emissions but these measures cost much more than the money that is being offered. They should be realistic and increase the budget. After all, it is meant to be a priority?

Actually, I prefer to think that the support budget has been subsidising cheap raw material below the cost of production in real terms a lot of the time, for the supermarkets... Not farmers per se.

jonnieboy · Aug 23, 2021

Good to hear they have extended the deadline
Hmm combining or sorting application for SFI no brainier really
Not sure if we don’t apply or go with a small claim on part of the land just to be in the loop
I know both land owners I deal with are very much against rewilding in any form so taking land out of production is not an option
We already have the odd corner and ditch buffer out of production but we are doing that ourselves and do not want any regulation on when we can clean the ditch etc and to be honest £500 per year for all the ditches on the farm isn’t enough
Starting on the regen ag path we are already seeing lots of benefits wildlife insects and partridges but will we be penalised if we don’t tick the right box ?
Too many unanswered questions yet !!

Sid · Aug 23, 2021

chaffcutter said:
Been onto RPA SFI helpline today about the lack of detail to help fill in the application re Hedgerows. Can we use the measurements shown on our Land details for length of hedges? Don't know. When adjoining fields show a measurement for the same hedge, what do we do? Don't know. How do we distinguish between having both sides of the hedge or only one side? Don't know. No box for that,
Their advisers they ask are offline today, supposed to call back or enmail me.

Best news for some is that they have extended the deadline for applications until 29th September, I think they are frit that they wont get enough uptake unless they change payment levels and make it clearer how to apply for a lot of the options.

I asked similar hedgerow questions a week ago still waiting

Bertie · Aug 24, 2021

chaffcutter said:
Been onto RPA SFI helpline today about the lack of detail to help fill in the application re Hedgerows. Can we use the measurements shown on our Land details for length of hedges? Don't know. When adjoining fields show a measurement for the same hedge, what do we do? Don't know. How do we distinguish between having both sides of the hedge or only one side? Don't know. No box for that,
Their advisers they ask are offline today, supposed to call back or enmail me.

Best news for some is that they have extended the deadline for applications until 29th September, I think they are frit that they wont get enough uptake unless they change payment levels and make it clearer how to apply for a lot of the options.

I haven't received anything about an extension for pilot applications, did you get an email from them???

Grass And Grain · Aug 24, 2021

Only sector who applies for the pilot will be farms where SFI naturally fits into farming system. E.g. farm already practices direct drilling.

Then DEFRA might think farmers are happy with SFI. Then, when it comes to full roll-out, it will become apparent most farmers can't get SFI to fit their system.

Farmers stock their farms (grazing livestock) for average grass growth years. Sometimes excess grass, it gets tight in drought summers. How can anyone commit to minimum sward heights? Farming doesn't follow a text book.

Grass And Grain · Aug 24, 2021

I think SFI is totally misjudged.

I think everyone should bin their applications.

chaffcutter · Aug 24, 2021

@Bertie was told that on the phone to the helpline yesterday

Walton2 · Aug 24, 2021

chaffcutter said:
@Bertie was told that on the phone to the helpline yesterday

Trust that when you see it in writing!

steveR · Aug 24, 2021

Walton2 said:
Trust that when you see it in writing!

...and if it's DEFRA, they can still change their mind later too!

chaffcutter · Aug 24, 2021

Actually had a call back this morning on the hedgerow questions, and basically I need to go through each field and note lengths of double sided or single sided in each one then total up.

Sustainable Farming Incentive Deadline Looming

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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