Defra now looking at capping SFI

ringi · Mar 25, 2024

The only reason I can see for having 100% of the land in these options is to avoid inheritance tax by "farming", without taking the risk of farming.

4course · Mar 25, 2024

4course said:
Doubt it on reading the press release reckon it means the total of the six is capped at 25 % of acerage now wether that means 25 % of that classed as arable or improved grass etc or total acerage is not clear, I cannot see how they can alter agreements that have already been made and acted upon without recompense and at least enable folk to alter their scheme without being awkward . The release says theve got 15000 applicants which is still a long way short and this capping will only lead to distrust and a reluctance of folk to sign up. Hey ho just more hassle and stress to sort and cope with which on top of the weather/ harvest prospects is not helpful .

Further to my post above on looking at the sfi handbook the changes have already been updated in the guidance notes and seems those already agreed can carry on but new application are under different rules as from 26march 24

willyorkshire · Mar 25, 2024

farmerm said:
It is true but that is because the economy tanks, pound fall and that helps our exports and competitiveness against imports. Those these days with so much of our agricultural inputs imported, I am not sure the benefits will be so clear.

fair point. Odd really. Farmers generally are Conservative supporters but my Dad always said farming does better under Labour. We'll soon be finding out! Maybe they'll go for the Wales shambles.

gloria1 · Mar 25, 2024

Typical Defra bad management.Some of the options eg IGL2 are in the summer months producing silage, hay and haylage for FOOD production.Unbelievable nonsense encouraging everyone in with papers,words webinars ,consultants etc and then changing the rules.Govt clearly has not " got your back" as they claim more like:" back you go ".

yellow belly · Mar 25, 2024

willyorkshire said:
fair point. Odd really. Farmers generally are Conservative supporters but my Dad always said farming does better under Labour. We'll soon be finding out! Maybe they'll go for the Wales shambles.

the worst time in the last 80 years was brown blair labour wheat at £70 and foot and mouth followed by tb

current govenment not popular but when labour get in tb control will be nonexistant rip cattle farming
tb was on the verge of elimination till labour protected the badgers in the 1970s

exiting the erm was a good time under major
remaining in the eec was good under heath

1948 under labour continued farming surport from the war

as always with govenment it is the detail not the policy

BrianV · Mar 25, 2024

willyorkshire said:
fair point. Odd really. Farmers generally are Conservative supporters but my Dad always said farming does better under Labour. We'll soon be finding out! Maybe they'll go for the Wales shambles.

Mine always said the very same thing.

ajcc · Mar 25, 2024

Can’t say anyone who has been reading TFF forum over last 18 months wasn’t well warned about ‘trust and moving goalposts.’
Seems common sense to hold off any agreement sign up until things stabilise and you can be guaranteed that the other party won’t move the goalposts or even run off with the ball.

4course · Mar 25, 2024

ajcc said:
Can’t say anyone who has been reading TFF forum over last 18 months wasn’t well warned about ‘trust and moving goalposts.’
Seems common sense to hold off any agreement sign up until things stabilise and you can be guaranteed that the other party won’t move the goalposts or even run off with the ball.

not so sure holding off has been the correct thing to do as on reading the defra update seems those who have already signed up will continue with their agreement as started so for them nothing has changed mindst you are right about trust and moving goalposts it was only in feb they upped the rate for some of the things they have now restricted .

livestock 1 · Mar 25, 2024

I have 2 options it’s either put something into sfi now or wait until sometime in the summer and put something into sfi then where there will be more options with a slightly higher rate of payment

Steevo · Mar 25, 2024

livestock 1 said:
I have 2 options it’s either put something into sfi now or wait until sometime in the summer and put something into sfi then where there will be more options with a slightly higher rate of payment

Or some now under one agreement….and start a second agreement in the summer.

livestock 1 · Mar 25, 2024

Steevo said:
Or some now under one agreement….and start a second agreement in the summer.

I’m starting some now but it looks hopeless to be honest unless I was wanting to retire or something

4course · Mar 25, 2024

Steevo said:
Or some now under one agreement….and start a second agreement in the summer.

do you have to start a new agreement or can you add to an existing one ( thought you could add )

Northern territory · Mar 25, 2024

Who in their right mind could think that all those options was going to end well . It’s a complicated mess. All the warning signs and messages were made apparent to Janet Hughes while she was on here but they weren’t for listening.

Steevo · Mar 25, 2024

Northern territory said:
Who in their right mind could think that all those options was going to end well . It’s a complicated mess. All the warning signs and messages were made apparent to Janet Hughes while she was on here but they weren’t for listening.

I do wonder if they imagined that farms would do a little bit of say 40 different options spread across their farms.

If they did, that would be the equivalent of an employee doing a different job for each hour of the working week.

Specialisation was introduced for a reason.

livestock 1 · Mar 25, 2024

Steevo said:
I do wonder if they imagined that farms would do a little bit of say 40 different options spread across their farms.

If they did, that would be the equivalent of an employee doing a different job for each hour of the working week.

Specialisation was introduced for a reason.

Basically then they think sfi is a bad idea as well but it’s ok to do a bit of it but not much

Billboy1 · Mar 25, 2024

livestock 1 said:
Basically then they think sfi is a bad idea as well but it’s ok to do a bit of it but not much

Or in the words of mark Spencer take the proverbial

tullah · Mar 25, 2024

willyorkshire said:
fair point. Odd really. Farmers generally are Conservative supporters but my Dad always said farming does better under Labour. We'll soon be finding out! Maybe they'll go for the Wales shambles.

The pound always hits rock bottom under Labour and our crops are valued in $ and €. It’s the rest of the country that suffers.

Steevo · Mar 25, 2024

Billboy1 said:
Or in the words of mark Spencer take the proverbial

How is following government policy taking the proverbial?

If the government financially encouraged businesses to reduce electricity usage in peak hours to balance the grid and help stop brownouts and some businesses decided to totally switch to working nights instead of days would they not be congratulated for playing their part?

The government chose the rules.

Applicants are just playing by the rules they have been given.

Hindsight · Mar 25, 2024

Steevo said:
I do wonder if they imagined that farms would do a little bit of say 40 different options spread across their farms.

If they did, that would be the equivalent of an employee doing a different job for each hour of the working week.

Specialisation was introduced for a reason.

Yes. Odd corner. Bit of a strip along a hedge. All on there model (pretend) Xmas present farm. The thought spreadsheets would say Beans/Rape/Linseed are terrible against AHL1 never crossed J&J mind.

livestock 1 · Mar 25, 2024

Steevo said:
How is following government policy taking the proverbial?

If the government financially encouraged businesses to reduce electricity usage in peak hours to balance the grid and help stop brownouts and some businesses decided to totally switch to working nights instead of days would they not be congratulated for playing their part?

The government chose the rules.

Applicants are just playing by the rules they have been given.

I have been quite shocked how many people are so keen on sfi

Defra now looking at capping SFI

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Up to 25%

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50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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