Moving from CS agreement to SFI .

onthehoof · Feb 20, 2024

Well here’s your answer, in spite of being told that when we rolled over our HLS agreement for another 5 years we could come out at anytime and go into SFI if the options were better, and in spite of Janet Hughes clearly stating in the defra webinar that HLS agreement holders could leave the scheme ‘at anytime of your choosing’ - I have had confirmation from the RPA that we can’t in fact go into SFI and we are stuck with our existing agreement.

white_stuffed · Feb 20, 2024

We had the identical email. I phoned the rpa helpline and I'm waiting for a call back. The call handler thought the email was probably wrong, she couldn't understand why 2025 was mentioned at all.

onthehoof · Feb 20, 2024

white_stuffed said:
We had the identical email. I phoned the rpa helpline and I'm waiting for a call back. The call handler thought the email was probably wrong, she couldn't understand why 2025 was mentioned at all.

Yes I replied to the email with that very comment, I asked to come out now, I didn’t mention 2025

Andy26 · Feb 20, 2024

onthehoof said:
Yes I replied to the email with that very comment, I asked to come out now, I didn’t mention 2025

Its sounded on the webinar Janet did that nothing was sorted and it was likely to need to align with the CSS start/end date ,pushing this back to Jan 1st 2025 will greatly reduce the number wishing to switch and when they do make it easier to transition.

Vader · Mar 1, 2024

Finally after months of waiting to find out if I can end my CS and switch to SFI instead.
The answer is if CS ends early, then ALL the money has to be paid back!
They looking at something june/july when might be able to move over from CS to SFI.
So untill then my SFP drops away and can not get anything back..

spin cycle · Mar 1, 2024

I was at nfu info meeting...apparently you can run sfi alongside existing Cs agreements.....not 'tested the water' yet mind

Vader · Mar 1, 2024

spin cycle said:
I was at nfu info meeting...apparently you can run sfi alongside existing Cs agreements.....not 'tested the water' yet mind

yes, just the better stuff on SFI grass is not on offer as got some CS on it already.
but strangely, some small arable blocks that are 100% flower mix now under CS, still says i can enter them in SFI... system is f**ked..

nonemouse · Mar 1, 2024

Vader said:
Finally after months of waiting to find out if I can end my CS and switch to SFI instead.
The answer is if CS ends early, then ALL the money has to be paid back!
They looking at something june/july when might be able to move over from CS to SFI.
So untill then my SFP drops away and can not get anything back..

Is that pay back all monies since start of agreement? Or just last extension?
My agreement has been running since 2008 but last extension only started 1st September 23 (but it was a 5 year agreement)

Vader · Mar 1, 2024

nonemouse said:
Is that pay back all monies since start of agreement? Or just last extension?
My agreement has been running since 2008 but last extension only started 1st September 23 (but it was a 5 year agreement)

Not sure. They would not extend my hls, so joined Cs on a 5 year. Sould would have to pay back the 2 years we been in.

Huno · Mar 2, 2024

IN JULY... you can either cancel CS and pay it back or not pay it back but deliver more on your SBI from CS/SFI as long as the computer/RPA officer agrees.. Until then you can only join SFI 23 which is not designed for farmers who already do good things for the Environment and is geared towards large Arable Contractors and their Lords and masters.. Handbook will be out before July.. probably at the busiest time of year.. Good luck...

yellow belly · Mar 2, 2024

Vader said:
Not sure. They would not extend my hls, so joined Cs on a 5 year. Sould would have to pay back the 2 years we been in.

just do sfi actions on land that is not in css
parcels can have both css and sfi as long as they are not on the sap bits of land

i have hedge tree management and asses hedge on hedges that have css cuting money
no insecticide on land in css options that are allowed

the sfi system will not allow some actions on css options that are similar

i will convert css to sfi when they can allow it as the money is paid quarterly in stead of 11 months after the start or later

Stw88 · Mar 2, 2024

i have a large area of ground with an old mixed stocking option on through entry level stewardship. I get £35/ha for that, im not aloud to combine that with Sfi low input and as far as I can see it certainly isn’t double funding. I definitely will be applying to end my current scheme and go into a new one, when I applied for an extension that the rpa suggested to do until they had some idea of what was actually going to happen they said that I would be able to change as long as there was the same or more environmental benefit. This is an old higher level scheme that I think they will want people out of and into new agreements as it’s nearly 15years ago since it was originally written and some things arnt really relevant now.

onthehoof · Mar 2, 2024

nonemouse said:
Is that pay back all monies since start of agreement? Or just last extension?
My agreement has been running since 2008 but last extension only started 1st September 23 (but it was a 5 year agreement)

It’s since the start of agreement, they were very specific with this when offering extensions that is exactly what they are extensions to your existing agreement, so would have to pay back from start, we are in the same boat as you.
They should at least pay the same rates for same options, we currently get £255/ha for HK10 under HLS but same option GS10 under CS pays more than twice as much at £547/ha!

nonemouse · Mar 2, 2024

onthehoof said:
It’s since the start of agreement, they were very specific with this when offering extensions that is exactly what they are extensions to your existing agreement, so would have to pay back from start, we are in the same boat as you.
They should at least pay the same rates for same options, we currently get £255/ha for HK10 under HLS but same option GS10 under CS pays more than twice as much at £547/ha!

I have 102ha covered in Els/hls yet it only generates £6000 per year

Vader · Apr 8, 2024

Well I wrote in December about moving. They replied now...

Can close old now,but won't know what available for a few months, but loose any payments for coming year..

Huno · Apr 8, 2024

Vader said:
Well I wrote in December about moving. They replied now...

Can close old now,but won't know what available for a few months, but loose any payments for coming year..

Well that is the first time i have seen them put that in writting! Wow.. There is a God if that is true.. Was that from Rozalyne Kidd the RPA transition director? If so then applications for SFI will increase greatly from 1st Jan 2024??

Huno · Apr 8, 2024

Vader said:
Well I wrote in December about moving. They replied now...

Can close old now,but won't know what available for a few months, but loose any payments for coming year..

Was this query for a "Mirror Agreement" extension a Mid Tier scheme?

Vader · Apr 8, 2024

Huno said:
Was this query for a "Mirror Agreement" extension a Mid Tier scheme?

I phoned rpa in Dec about moving.
I was told I could if new scheme was worth more/better.
But to get email confirmation.
So emailed them mid Dec, that is the reply just received..

Between Dec and now they phoned twice to say still looking at it. Plus once to say I could move, but would have to pay back ALL the cs I had received to that point.

Huno · Apr 8, 2024

Vader said:
I phoned rpa in Dec about moving.
I was told I could if new scheme was worth more/better.
But to get email confirmation.
So emailed them mid Dec, that is the reply just received..

Between Dec and now they phoned twice to say still looking at it. Plus once to say I could move, but would have to pay back ALL the cs I had received to that point.

Great news! If that is the plan then we can all enter SFI in January 24?

Huno · Apr 8, 2024

They must soon be releasing the details of SFI 24 at DEFRA if the RPA can now provide replies like that

Moving from CS agreement to SFI .

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