- Location
- North Somerset.
Set out below is the text of the agreement DEFRA expect me to sign to be part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive Pilot (SFI Pilot) Agreement with my details omitted.
The poll is for fun (perhaps)
DEFRA expect me to sign this without knowing what the payment rates will be over a three year period ( which I was not previously aware of having assumed it was over one year to coincide with the payment of the £5K bribe to take part) There is no limit to how much time I might be required to commit but DEFRA can it would appear dock money at their discretion.
That might be due to my oversight but in addition I find that I will have to comply with the SFI terms and conditions (Highlighted in red) none of which are included in the agreement so which particular version DEFRA wish to apply will be outside of my control.
This not a contract between equals in the area of dispute resolution and there is no obligation on DEFRA that I can see..
I don't trust DEFRA so in order to be clear about my legal obligations and the possible consequences of signing this agreement I would have to spend up front a significant proportion of the £5K on a decent agricultural lawyer who no doubt will confirm my view that I shouldn't have anything to do with the SFI pilot.
@Janet Hughes Defra Mine is an all grass farm with cattle outwintered whenever possible. I dont use artificial fertilisers or buy compound feeds in any quantity and your scheme would require me to carry out soil sampling work that is not necessary with a low input fodder based system where the manure falls where the cow decides. It is also impossible to control sward heights in the manner suggested through the seasons.
It is a shame that I cannot participate because your researchers could learn a lot from simple systems like mine about what actually happens throughout a year when grazing livestock. You are welcome to send them along by appointment and I will charge my time to DEFRA at my current hourly rate.
Agreement Holder
Data Protection The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the data controller for personal data you give to RPA. For information on how we handle personal data go to www.gov.uk and search ‘Rural Payments Agency personal information charter’.
Agreement Document Type: Sustainable Farming Incentive Pilot (SFI Pilot) Agreement Name: SFI pilot agreement Agreement Start date: 01 NOVEMBER 2021 Agreement End date: 31 OCTOBER 2024 Date Generated: 14/10/2021 Application Reference: Application Status: Agreement Offered Page 1 of 5 the published guidance ("Guidance"); Introduction and Overview •
This is the SFI Pilot Agreement ("Agreement") which sets out specific details in relation to the Agreement Holder’s grant funding under the SFI Pilot. The SFI Pilot forms part of the Environmental Land Management National Pilot Scheme funded under s1 of the Agriculture Act 2020.
The Agreement should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to the: • SFI Pilot Terms and Conditions ("Terms and Conditions"); and which together form the Agreement. The Agreement should also be read in conjunction with the Agriculture (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2021 which apply to the Environmental Land Management National Pilot Scheme.
All obligations and details in this Agreement are binding on the Agreement Holder, save where they are expressly stated to be “not binding”.
1. Parties to the Agreement and the Rural Payments Agency (acting as a delivery body on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), PO Box 324, Worksop, S95 1DF (the "Authority"). This Agreement is between: (the "Agreement Holder and the Rural Payments Agency (acting as a delivery body on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), PO Box 324, Worksop, S95 1DF (the "Authority").
2. Standards The following table sets out the Standard(s) and Ambition Level(s) the Agreement Holder has selected. The Terms and Conditions and the Guidance sets out the accompanying obligations for the selected Standard and Ambition Level. In addition the table sets out the anticipated total payments which, subject to the Agreement Holder’s compliance with the Agreement, may be paid to the Agreement Holder. Please note that these figures are correct as at the Agreement Start Date and may vary as a result of the processes set out in the Terms and Conditions and/or the Guidance. These figures are being provided to assist the Agreement Holder to determine what publicity obligations will apply to the Agreement Holder. For further details on publicity obligations, please see scheme Guidance.
Standard Ambition Level Total applied for (Ha) Payment Rate Annual Value Total Value
* For the avoidance of doubt the Total Agreement Value shall be the maximum amount an Agreement Holder may receive under this Agreement (excluding any Pilot Participation Payment). Payment will be made on a quarterly basis subject to compliance with the Agreement. The Total Agreement Value and Total annual payment value stated in the table above comprise the total aggregate quarterly payments over the course of the Agreement and do not constitute separate payments. The Pilot Participation Payment amount displayed in this table is the amount for the first year of your Agreement. Amounts for subsequent years will be confirmed at a later date. The Pilot Participation Payment amount paid during the term of this Agreement may vary depending on the amount of learning activities the Agreement Holder undertakes.
The poll is for fun (perhaps)
DEFRA expect me to sign this without knowing what the payment rates will be over a three year period ( which I was not previously aware of having assumed it was over one year to coincide with the payment of the £5K bribe to take part) There is no limit to how much time I might be required to commit but DEFRA can it would appear dock money at their discretion.
That might be due to my oversight but in addition I find that I will have to comply with the SFI terms and conditions (Highlighted in red) none of which are included in the agreement so which particular version DEFRA wish to apply will be outside of my control.
This not a contract between equals in the area of dispute resolution and there is no obligation on DEFRA that I can see..
I don't trust DEFRA so in order to be clear about my legal obligations and the possible consequences of signing this agreement I would have to spend up front a significant proportion of the £5K on a decent agricultural lawyer who no doubt will confirm my view that I shouldn't have anything to do with the SFI pilot.
@Janet Hughes Defra Mine is an all grass farm with cattle outwintered whenever possible. I dont use artificial fertilisers or buy compound feeds in any quantity and your scheme would require me to carry out soil sampling work that is not necessary with a low input fodder based system where the manure falls where the cow decides. It is also impossible to control sward heights in the manner suggested through the seasons.
It is a shame that I cannot participate because your researchers could learn a lot from simple systems like mine about what actually happens throughout a year when grazing livestock. You are welcome to send them along by appointment and I will charge my time to DEFRA at my current hourly rate.
Agreement Holder
Data Protection The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the data controller for personal data you give to RPA. For information on how we handle personal data go to www.gov.uk and search ‘Rural Payments Agency personal information charter’.
Agreement Document Type: Sustainable Farming Incentive Pilot (SFI Pilot) Agreement Name: SFI pilot agreement Agreement Start date: 01 NOVEMBER 2021 Agreement End date: 31 OCTOBER 2024 Date Generated: 14/10/2021 Application Reference: Application Status: Agreement Offered Page 1 of 5 the published guidance ("Guidance"); Introduction and Overview •
This is the SFI Pilot Agreement ("Agreement") which sets out specific details in relation to the Agreement Holder’s grant funding under the SFI Pilot. The SFI Pilot forms part of the Environmental Land Management National Pilot Scheme funded under s1 of the Agriculture Act 2020.
The Agreement should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to the: • SFI Pilot Terms and Conditions ("Terms and Conditions"); and which together form the Agreement. The Agreement should also be read in conjunction with the Agriculture (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2021 which apply to the Environmental Land Management National Pilot Scheme.
All obligations and details in this Agreement are binding on the Agreement Holder, save where they are expressly stated to be “not binding”.
1. Parties to the Agreement and the Rural Payments Agency (acting as a delivery body on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), PO Box 324, Worksop, S95 1DF (the "Authority"). This Agreement is between: (the "Agreement Holder and the Rural Payments Agency (acting as a delivery body on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), PO Box 324, Worksop, S95 1DF (the "Authority").
2. Standards The following table sets out the Standard(s) and Ambition Level(s) the Agreement Holder has selected. The Terms and Conditions and the Guidance sets out the accompanying obligations for the selected Standard and Ambition Level. In addition the table sets out the anticipated total payments which, subject to the Agreement Holder’s compliance with the Agreement, may be paid to the Agreement Holder. Please note that these figures are correct as at the Agreement Start Date and may vary as a result of the processes set out in the Terms and Conditions and/or the Guidance. These figures are being provided to assist the Agreement Holder to determine what publicity obligations will apply to the Agreement Holder. For further details on publicity obligations, please see scheme Guidance.
Standard Ambition Level Total applied for (Ha) Payment Rate Annual Value Total Value
* For the avoidance of doubt the Total Agreement Value shall be the maximum amount an Agreement Holder may receive under this Agreement (excluding any Pilot Participation Payment). Payment will be made on a quarterly basis subject to compliance with the Agreement. The Total Agreement Value and Total annual payment value stated in the table above comprise the total aggregate quarterly payments over the course of the Agreement and do not constitute separate payments. The Pilot Participation Payment amount displayed in this table is the amount for the first year of your Agreement. Amounts for subsequent years will be confirmed at a later date. The Pilot Participation Payment amount paid during the term of this Agreement may vary depending on the amount of learning activities the Agreement Holder undertakes.
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