Sustainable farming incentive - handbook for 2023 has been published

Janet Hughes Defra

Janet Hughes Defra

Member
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Afternoon all,

Today we've published a handbook containing all the detailed information about the sustainable farming incentive offer for this year.

The handbook is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfi-handbook-for-the-sfi-2023-offer

An overview blogpost is here: https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/21/sfi-more-ways-to-enhance-your-income-productivity-and-the-environment/

The handbook sets out all the detailed actions, rules and requirements of the scheme, in a single handbook that you can download and print (because this is what many of you have asked us to do, rather than spreading the information across multiple pages on GOV.UK).

We have made some changes to the scheme in response to feedback from you and other farmers and through our pilot and early rollout of the scheme. In particular, we have made a much broader range of options available, made the scheme more flexible so you can pick the individual actions you want to do rather than having to do them in set combinations or percentages of land entered into the scheme.

Finally, I know I have not been present on the forum in the consistent, ongoing way many of you would like. I understand why that has been frustrating and annoying, and I am really sorry about that. I have found that am just not able to personally engage on every thread on an ongoing basis, I'm afraid. However I do really want to find a way of addressing your questions and hearing your feedback all the time, not just when we publish new information, so I am working with @Clive to put in place a better, ongoing, sustainable way of managing this so that you can ask questions of me and my team and give us feedback when they arise. We will let you know where we get to with that as soon as possible.

For this particular thread, I am planning to be online at least daily, for the next week, to answer your questions about the information we've published today. I have posted this as a question with voting, and if you could upvote questions that you particularly want me to address it would be helpful if you could vote for them so that I can prioritise my time and attention, and I will then do my best to work through as many of them as I possibly can. I hope this is helpful and look forward to your questions.

If you have questions about your specific farm situation, the best thing to do is contact the RPA contact centre and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Thank you.
 
Solution
T
Honestly this is where you get farmers feedback and where you should have laid out questions before any bps was removed , it seems the cart was sent out before the horse was even born you now have the whole budget and are asking us if we want to participate with tearms that are ludicrous to any business owner for little in return but a few quid and a "your doing your bit for the environment"? the forms are so complex that it might as well be written in binary code.
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Sid

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Aspiring Peasants said:
But it doesn’t say what percentage of the ley needs to be clover etc or what happens if you can prove you planted it but it didn’t grow?
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Well mine vary year to year,the weather last year there was less,atm its rife.


Well if you've taken a photo of the seed label, the invoice, the field operation and following establishment.
If it fails to establish, then you'll have to do it again won't you.
 
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milkloss

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Aspiring Peasants said:
Yes, again my problem is the vagueness about the desired outcome. I can do what they suggest which is cut or graze march to July and leave it after that, but will that be enough if there isn’t a lot of seeded grass etc by October, after that the frost wI’ll probably flatten them!
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I’ve got this as an example . I wonder if it is enough seeds. I don’t care if it actually feeds birds, it’s whether it qualifies or not.

IMG_1531.jpeg
IMG_1532.jpeg
 
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H

Huno

Member
Arable Farmer
topground said:
Rolls Royce standards on bicycle money. DEFRA clearly don’t look at the economics of demanding their standards of design and construction of calf houses while only offering grants that cover 40%.
Where do these desk jockeys think the other 60% is coming from when the margins in the job are so low that payback on the investment would be measured in centuries? Any investment here has come from BPS. SFI is not viable .
Why jump all of the hoops designed to provide work for RPA staff when you can buy calf hutches off the shelf that don’t need planning permission and are ready to go?
This scheme and many others currently relaxing BPS is all fine and dandy for calf rearing operations that are run by research organisations and Vet schools that don’t have to make a profit but not fit for purpose n commercial operations struggling in the face of cartel buyer dominance..
Anyone have the answer @Janet Hughes Defra ?
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If they just made calf hutches out of recycled plastic waste then you livestock folk could tell DEFRA to shove off!! just a thought but yet again their prescriptive rules are a joke and they never asked anyone if there was a much cheaper and cooler way of doing it for grant money! Binary creatures in offices staring at screens dont solve calf house improvements...
 
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Henarar

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
soapsud said:
Money for nothing and chicks for free, eh?
On a serious note, there's clover and there's clover. We get lots of self-seeding small leaved clover that presumably isn't as good as the big leaved hybrid type. I wonder if a RPA inspector would discriminate the difference?
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Who knows
farmerm said:
Will Janet’s post carry any weight should an inspector have a different interpretation?
Click to expand...
Who knows
 
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W

Walton2

Member
Aspiring Peasants said:
What is acceptable as a herbal ley? The definition is so vague

What to do​

You must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mixture of grasses, legumes, and herbs on the land entered into this action.


So if I direct drill some clover and herbs into an existing grass ley, and not much grows but I can prove I’ve done it, is that acceptable?
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Cross your fingers and hope for that well publicised “light touch” during your inspection (sorry….I mean ..visit) !
 
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E

Exmoor Farm

Member
Livestock Farmer
yorkshirebylines.co.uk

Supporting UK farmers towards net-zero agriculture

UK farmers face tough choices in their transition to net-zero agriculture.
yorkshirebylines.co.uk yorkshirebylines.co.uk

Stumbled across this article just now, nothing strikingly new being said but paints the picture fairly well.

I am surprised that there is not more being said in the media about the changes in / withdrawal of farm support.

The loss of BPS and SFI replacement will make the entire rural economy poorer - not just farm businesses and yet the discussion seems limited to this forum.

Total silence from DEFRA (apart from once a year SFI announcements) and most journalists don't seem to have a clue
 
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sjt01

sjt01

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North Norfolk
Huno said:
If they just made calf hutches out of recycled plastic waste then you livestock folk could tell DEFRA to shove off!! just a thought but yet again their prescriptive rules are a joke and they never asked anyone if there was a much cheaper and cooler way of doing it for grant money! Binary creatures in offices staring at screens dont solve calf house improvements...
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1691094711579.png
1691094711579.png
 
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Tiptoe Ted

Tiptoe Ted

Member
Location
South East
Tiptoe Ted said:
@Janet Hughes Defra Please could you confirm that it will be permitted to terminate a Mid Tier agreement early in order to enter the SFI?
I have always understood that it would be ok but I can't see an answer to this question in either the handbook or this thread.
I appreciate that you can run a mid tier and SFI alongside each other but I would like to transfer it all into SFI.
Many thanks
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As @Janet Hughes Defra appears to have left the conversation, can anyone else answer my query please?
Can we cancel an existing Mid Tier agreement early in order to go all in to SFI?
I believe we can but can't find it in writing anywhere...
 
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Jackov Altraids

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Janet Hughes Defra said:
Yes, those in SFI will have access to the CS capital offer (see section 1.1, page 7)

Can I ask you to say a bit more about how has CSF increased paperwork and what the issues are in terms of regional variations? (There aren't any regional variations in SFI eligibility)

We've also amended the rules of options to make them more flexible and address issues that we often hear about from farmers in the way the options work. You can put buffer strips around LIG1 in SFI, through action IGL1 - see page 90 of the handbook which sets this out.

I'm not quite following your concern here (sorry) - the legumes option allows you to maintain existing legumes or establish new ones if they're not there already, and you can overseed or slot seed if you wish - it's up to you how you establish the legumes so long as you meet the aim of the action. Do you disagree with those rules? If so please can I ask why is that?

Thanks, yes I've noted that feedback and am discussing it with my colleagues.

I do see your point, and we considered that approach, but we opted for asking you to make a commitment for the duration of your agreement but giving a degree of flexibility so you can vary it each year and providing a way for you to let us know if it turns out you're not able to meet the commitment in any given year for some reason.

That's because we think on balance that we need to see a multi-year commitment to this action wherever possible in order to contribute to the intended outcomes and justify the investment, but we also think it's right to allow some flexibility to vary the area each year and respond in a fair and pragmatic way when there are issues that mean you can't fulfil the action.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you've had a busy month as this was your last visit. [July 3 2023]
And now there are 54 pages to catch up with.
 
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Two Tone

Two Tone

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
This is getting absolutely ridiculous!:
RPA Logo


SBI: xxxxxxxxx
Business name: xxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxx
Our ref: SFIxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx

Dear Mr xxxxxxx xxxx

Thank you for your phone call of 3 August 2023 requesting a hard copy of the SFI 23 handbook.

The SFI 23 handbook is a changing document which means hard copies aren't very useful as it becomes out of date very quickly. As the scheme evolves updates will be added on a regular basis which would make the hard copy out of date. Please find attached a PDF copy V1 of how the handbook stands as of today's date, however, I believe another update to the handbook is due very soon.

If you have any questions about this email
You can email [email protected] or call us on 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm). Please tell us your client’s SBI, which is at the top of this email.

Where you can find more information
You can find the most up-to-date information about the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 at Sustainable Farming Incentive: Scheme Guidance.

Yours sincerely

Elaine Monaghan
Sustainable Farming Incentive Operations


My Reply:
FAO Elaine Monaghan, Sustainable Farming Incentive Operations
Also FOA Janet Hughes, Sustainable Farming Incentive Operations.

SBI: xxxxxxxx

Dear Elaine Monaghan,

Thank you for you email. Your Colleague Janet Hughes clearly stated at this year’s Cereal Event at which she spoke on June 14th 2023, that a printed version of the 2023 SFI Handbook is available.

According to the OED, ‘Handbook’ refers to a printed on paper and bound document, not a PDF.

The book itself has over 150 pages and is therefore difficult, expensive and takes a long time to print.

Without a printed version, it is difficult to keep going backwards and forward to various reference points as fellow speaker, Mr Clive Bailey pointed out to Janet at the Cereals Event, to which Janet nodded in agreement. That entire meeting was video recorded and is available on YouTube.

Janet pointed out at that meeting and subsequently on the ‘Sustainable Farming Initiative - 2023 Handbook’ thread that she started on The Farming Forum (TFF) that a printed book is available at various Agricultural Events this year or by requesting it from RPA.

It is no excuse to say that the Scheme is constantly changing, therefore the book is out of date. If this indeed is the case, how can the scheme itself be ready or fit for purpose?

I therefore INSIST that the printed Sustainable Farming Initiative - 2023 Handbook is sent to me as was promised to me by your colleague Mr David Holland on my third phone call to RPA on this subject in 6 weeks, yesterday and by your colleague Mr Carl Pullin on the fourth phone call today!

Mr Holland said that it should be with me by the middle of next week. If the Handbook has changed since it was printed, then please ALSO send the revised addition ASAP after reprinting.
However, I must have the original version by the middle of next week.

Yours sincerely,

Xxxxxxx x xxxx.
Farms Manager and Agent, xxx xxxxxx xxxxx Ltd.
Xxxxx xxxxxx.
 
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W

Walton2

Member
Tiptoe Ted said:
As @Janet Hughes Defra appears to have left the conversation, can anyone else answer my query please?
Can we cancel an existing Mid Tier agreement early in order to go all in to SFI?
I believe we can but can't find it in writing anywhere...
Click to expand...
She can’t have left the conversation……surely we are in the middle of the heavily- publicised “Co-design” stage of the reform process! She promised to be back on Friday, I assumed that was 3 weeks ago. But , as the DEFRA lawyers would say….. she didn’t say which Friday!!!
 
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J 1177

J 1177

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Durham, UK
Walton2 said:
She can’t have left the conversation……surely we are in the middle of the heavily- publicised “Co-design” stage of the reform process! She promised to be back on Friday, I assumed that was 3 weeks ago. But , as the DEFRA lawyers would say….. she didn’t say which Friday!!!
Click to expand...
When they said co design they dont actually mean working farmers you know, more rspb, natural england etc.
 
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Two Tone

Two Tone

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
Walton2 said:
She can’t have left the conversation……surely we are in the middle of the heavily- publicised “Co-design” stage of the reform process! She promised to be back on Friday, I assumed that was 3 weeks ago. But , as the DEFRA lawyers would say….. she didn’t say which Friday!!!
Click to expand...
J 1177 said:
When they said co design they dont actually mean working farmers you know, more rspb, natural england etc.
Click to expand...
It is obvious to me that they are busy changing the scheme all the time as stated in Elaine Molaghan’s email to me and excuse as to why they are dragging their heels about sending a printed hard copy of the 2023 SFI Handbook.

That being the case, No wonder @Janet Hughes Defra won’t come back on this thread.

WE SHOULD ALL DEMAND THAT PAPER, PRINTED, HARD COPY OF THE HANDBOOK!
Then they would either have to stop altering the scheme or give it up as unfit for purpose and refund all the English their BPS reductions.

Thank goodness @Clive arranged to have that 14/06/23 Cereals Seminar with him and @Janet Hughes Defra recorded and available on YouTube!
So many times I have had similar situations with Utility Companies, where if you dig deep enough, they will be found to have had egg on their faces and have to back down.
 
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Clive

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Two Tone said:
It is obvious to me that they are busy changing the scheme all the time as stated in Elaine Molaghan’s email to me and excuse as to why they are dragging their heels about sending a printed hard copy of the 2023 SFI Handbook.

That being the case, No wonder @Janet Hughes Defra won’t come back on this thread.

WE SHOULD ALL DEMAND THAT PAPER, PRINTED, HARD COPY OF THE HANDBOOK!
Then they would either have to stop altering the scheme or give it up as unfit for purpose and refund all the English their BPS reductions.

Thank goodness @Clive arranged to have that 14/06/23 Cereals Seminar with him and @Janet Hughes Defra recorded and available on YouTube!
So many times I have had similar situations with Utility Companies, where if you dig deep enough, they will be found to have had egg on their faces and have to back down.
Click to expand...

they have already said we will see new standards added this autumn and more again next year

i think that’s the only reason to not print the boom as it clearly will change

i’ve spent the last few days planning our sfi / css and its not be too onerous to understand really
 
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 98 36.6%

  • 25-50%

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  • 50-75%

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  • 75-100%

    Votes: 4 1.5%

  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 14 5.2%
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