New Farming Investment Fund launched today
- Thread starter Janet Hughes Defra
- Start date
Yes sure - will check with the team and come back to you
That's best done directly with RPA: [email protected]
Farming in the North East
Member
Hi Janet, would a farm who has diversified into manufacturing bottled water, sourced and packaged on the farm that uses a generator and is looking to get onto the national grid (cost approx 65k) be able to receive the farming transformation grant? Or do you have any info on any grants that could assist?
renewablejohn
Member
- Location
- lancs
Maybe if the 16500 small farmers excluded under the minimum eligible rule of 5ha was given 2k then they may be able to participate in such schemes on a level playing field.
- Location
- South Wales UK
If they can't "stand the heat get out of the fire", then.?
Thankyou
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Well regards Government, its clueless definitely the clueless. That is just how politics works in an urbanised country. It should really come as no surprise, most of the population has little more understanding of agriculture than I have of brain surgery, how to build a nuclear reactor or who to best counter Russian and Chinese aggression. The cabinet is formed by selecting a small group of people from a marginally larger pool of people, a pool with a limited range of life experiences. Borris is a professional politician and he doesn't even have a strong grasp of the implications of trade agreements until after he has signed them, and not even then, he understands far less about practical agriculture.
DEFRA staff on the other hand, well except for a select few, come from pretty much the same hand I guess... but if we don't choose to quit farming to take up such roles ourselves then that just how it is going to be.
At least they are trying to engage and seek feedback.
Courier
Member
- Location
- M62 - M1 - M18 triangle
M
Agree mostly - Except Boris is a most unproffesional politician.....
- Location
- North Somerset.
Posted 5 th November on the ‘Missing in action’ thread
@Janet Hughes Defra
For the last time; Where is the equality in dispute resolution between the two parties to the contract?
If I disagree with the views of one of your inspectors who has the final say?
Is there any mechanism for arbitration and who bears the cost?
Awaiting with interest the figures showing how many of the remaining 937 have decided not to touch the SFI pilot even with a very long pole.
As with much of what the civil service does the process is more important than the product. This should perhaps be the subject of a separate thread.
What is the product in the case of SFI ?
How will the success of the scheme be measured?
What is the public good that is being delivered and how will that be quantified?
As I read the scheme from the perspective of an all grass livestock farm there there are many random standards but for what purpose?
What are the outcomes from maintaining average sward height?
As I read it these standards, irrespective of what the rewards for adhering to them are appear to be the product of academia. There is nothing that I have seen that sets out that if we as farmers adhere to x standard then Y will be a measurable outcome.
If there is a measurable outcome then it matters not how the farmer achieves it provided it can be delivered and measured.
If the outcomes were clear and measurable then I as a livestock farmer could be confident when an inspector arrives that we are both measuring the same things to the same standard.
In conclusion @Janet Hughes Defra What is the product of SFI? What are the measurable outcomes?
- Location
- People's Republic of South Yorkshire
Trouble is most times feedback is asked for by various groups, they get the feedback from farmers and ignore it as it don't suit the agenda or their own 'experts' know better than us simple farmers...
I have asked DEFRA if it is OK to have a B2B import from China and I was told yes, as long as the machine has a CE or UK approval mark. Very clear and transprent bank transfer details will be a must too.
Probably useful for any Invoice paperwork to have a clear description and the Grant Ref number on it too.
I emailed : [email protected] and had a quick and helpful response.
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I thought I had answered this at the time, sorry if I missed it.
The process is definitely not more important than the product (although the process can certainly get in the way of the product, and we are working hard to avoid that). We are here to deliver positive outcomes and make things work better for people.
The product in the case of SFI (and the whole set of reforms we're introducing) is a combination of: improved farm productivity, improved environment and climate outcomes and improved animal health and welfare outcomes. We will be publishing some information shortly about our overall goals in those categories, and our more specific intended outcomes for early rollout of the SFI scheme. More detailed environment targets for government overall, which ELM will contribute towards, will be set through a statutory process, as required by the recently passed Environment Act, next year.
In designing schemes, we include actions that will make the biggest contribution to our high priority outcomes, based on the evidence. We also select those that contribute to multiple outcomes, which is why the sustainable farming incentive will start with improving soil health.
We're testing the way the scheme works through the pilot, and through ongoing engagement with farmers. If you'd be interested to take part in that ongoing engagement and research, please let me know. We welcome all comers.
I do take your point about making the intended outcomes much clearer in the scheme standards and guidance, and we're working on doing that when we start rolling out the sustainable farming incentive next year.
On the pilot, we'll publish updated numbers of participants once we've worked through all the applications, which we're doing now.
Farming in the North East
Member
@Janet Hughes Defra - hi Janet sorry to press, do you have a reply to my above thread, thanks
Hi this is one I'd recommend you pick up with RPA directly - [email protected]
Farming in the North East
Member
Thanks janet, will do
All of which is good. Couple of points:
1) Have a read of this thread.
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/lack-of-small-abattoirs.350509/
As you will see from that, we don't have time for 'monitoring'. We are on a precipice. It has been spelt out on that thread by folks at the coal face specifically what needs to happen. It needs to happen now; ie in Defra terms months not years. Will you facilitate that ?
2) Shortening supply chains/ seeing the value in that. Here's the rub. The PM has appointed Sir Dave Lewis to sort out the food supply chain. In Dave's world that can only mean one thing; a continuation of the process that has been in place - with Government support - for the last 30 years. Consolidation not diversity. Less retailers, less processors, less primary producers. Are you coming out against that ? Because if you are then we need to know, because it will make you the only ally we have within Government. Which means you will have to watch your back.
I did say from the get go that I thought Janet was mad to do this. But seeing as she is game, I'm happy to play.
Hi @Janet Hughes Defra you have said there will be further rounds of funding. Will there be a maximum amount of grant per applicant over all of the rounds.
Also can I suggest automatic controls and for underfloor grain dryers an option inverters for the next round.
Also can I suggest automatic controls and for underfloor grain dryers an option inverters for the next round.
That's a shame but thanks for the answer.
