Anyone signed up for the SFI Pilot?

[Manney]

Who on TFF has signed up to the SFI Pilot?

What options have you chosen?

My agreement started 1st December and I have opted for grassland soil advanced standards, improved grassland intermediate standards and hedgerow introductory standards.

So far the process has been pretty straight forward and smooth. We had a couple of field parcels listed as arable but were grassland and the RPA got them changed reasonably quickly hence my 1st Dec start date and not 1st Nov as I had hoped.

I was expecting more correspondence from the RPA asking for feedback but not had any yet.

Interested in other peoples experiences so far.

 

[D14]

Suggest you take a look at this thread as over 80% of farmers aren't interested in it as its one sided from a legal point of view and the payment rates are not enough.

Will you be looking to take part in the future SFI/ELMS scheme? - 7/12/21

I ran one of these on 21st September 2021. Someone suggested running another given we have had some more recent announcements, so here it is. Same question as before: Based on your current understandings of the scheme today, will you be looking to take part in the future SFI/ELMS scheme...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Manney]

Suggest you take a look at this thread as over 80% of farmers aren't interested in it as its one sided from a legal point of view and the payment rates are not enough.

Will you be looking to take part in the future SFI/ELMS scheme? - 7/12/21

I ran one of these on 21st September 2021. Someone suggested running another given we have had some more recent announcements, so here it is. Same question as before: Based on your current understandings of the scheme today, will you be looking to take part in the future SFI/ELMS scheme...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

I'm interested in the 20% that do want to crack on give it a go thanks.

 

[Clive]

signed agreement this week

Basically advanced soils and hedgerows

no options that take land out of production because they simply do not cover the income forgone and cost of establishment


not been asked for much feedback yet, process has been reasonably straight forward

 

[Repeat]

We are trying to sign up, but are having the same problem as you Manny, aiming to do advanced soils on all the good grassland and arable area of the farm.
But two fields which were in barley for years then grassed down when prices were low . Went from temporary to PG1 now back in spring barley for 4 years
They still have them as permanent pasture and have asked for an RLE 1 form.

The application itself was straight forward and I think we will be able to do the requirements fairly easily.

As with yourselves we have had no direct contact or chance to feed back.
My first wish would be to redefine permanent pasture as the five years rule is an EU idea and does not for well for any mixed farming
There should be one soils standard for all good land, and a separate one for the rough bits.
So I need a little more paperwork to get set off.

 

[E_B]

Have signed up some of ours for advanced land and soils standards, plus basic hedgerows.

Confirmed the agreement, it is live and commenced on 1st November, but I haven't had any communication yet. I believe it said somewhere about a 'welcome pack', but I haven't seen any sign of this yet.

 

[Lincsman]

signed agreement this week

Basically advanced soils and hedgerows

no options that take land out of production because they simply do not cover the income forgone and cost of establishment


not been asked for much feedback yet, process has been reasonably straight forward

So whats an advanced hedge row??? bigger because you dont trim it?

 

[alomy75]

Also accepted the offer this week after a gentle reminder from an RPA lady that is forgotten to actually click the button it’s been the easiest RPA thing I’ve ever applied for so far. As with them all; checking the wording of the standards is paramount…words like ‘you must’ are very different to ‘you might’ or ‘options include’. Gone for advanced soils as realised that I’m doing doing them anyway. Most of my work will be in the office for it which is fine. Nice to be remunerated for farming ‘properly’ but it’s hardly going to replace bps.

 

[alomy75]

@Janet Hughes Defra I wonder if you could clear something up for us on this thread; there seems to be a lot of confusion over differing standards between the pilot and actual SFI; in the pilot we have advanced soils for example but in farmers weekly yesterday in the sfi article the actual sfi standards only extend to intermediate (with advanced to follow in latter years) yet the intermediate standards mentioned in FW seem very much more restrictive than the advanced in the pilot (?) could you confirm the standards we signed up to in the pilot will stand for the duration of the pilot scheme and won’t default to those mentioned in FW? Or is this a case of being lost in translation in the FW article? Thanks

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

@Janet Hughes Defra I wonder if you could clear something up for us on this thread; there seems to be a lot of confusion over differing standards between the pilot and actual SFI; in the pilot we have advanced soils for example but in farmers weekly yesterday in the sfi article the actual sfi standards only extend to intermediate (with advanced to follow in latter years) yet the intermediate standards mentioned in FW seem very much more restrictive than the advanced in the pilot (?) could you confirm the standards we signed up to in the pilot will stand for the duration of the pilot scheme and won’t default to those mentioned in FW? Or is this a case of being lost in translation in the FW article? Thanks

Yes, the standards you signed up to in the pilot will stay as they are.

We've updated the standards for the main scheme, outside the pilot, based on the feedback we've had so far, to make them simpler and more practicable on farm. We'll continue learning through the pilot to inform the next iteration of the standards for the main scheme.

If it helps: the pilot is our research and development wing, where we test things before we roll them out more widely - that means the pilot will inevitably be different to the main scheme. We'll work with our pilot participants to make sure they have all the information they need as we go along.

 

[delilah]

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/20...stainable-farming-incentive-pilot-applicants/

 

[delilah]

Confirmed the agreement, it is live and commenced on 1st November, but I haven't had any communication yet. I believe it said somewhere about a 'welcome pack', but I haven't seen any sign of this yet.

Likewise. Hope we've done nothing wrong since 1 Nov.....

 

[Spade]

Who on TFF has signed up to the SFI Pilot?

What options have you chosen?

My agreement started 1st December and I have opted for grassland soil advanced standards, improved grassland intermediate standards and hedgerow introductory standards.

So far the process has been pretty straight forward and smooth. We had a couple of field parcels listed as arable but were grassland and the RPA got them changed reasonably quickly hence my 1st Dec start date and not 1st Nov as I had hoped.

I was expecting more correspondence from the RPA asking for feedback but not had any yet.

Interested in other peoples experiences so far.

Have done similar and same start date,awaiting for information pack!

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

@Janet Hughes Defra I wonder if you could clear something up for us on this thread; there seems to be a lot of confusion over differing standards between the pilot and actual SFI; in the pilot we have advanced soils for example but in farmers weekly yesterday in the sfi article the actual sfi standards only extend to intermediate (with advanced to follow in latter years) yet the intermediate standards mentioned in FW seem very much more restrictive than the advanced in the pilot (?) could you confirm the standards we signed up to in the pilot will stand for the duration of the pilot scheme and won’t default to those mentioned in FW? Or is this a case of being lost in translation in the FW article? Thanks

Hi sorry I missed this when you posted it - the standards you signed up for in the pilot are staying as they are.

(We've updated them for the main scheme based on what we've already learned, which is why the standards in the main scheme are different)

 

[redsloe]

Likewise. Hope we've done nothing wrong since 1 Nov.....

Millions of posts about 'they will get there' and you've sighed up to the pilot thats already outdated?

Speechless.....

 

[delilah]

Millions of posts about 'they will get there' and you've sighed up to the pilot thats already outdated?

Speechless.....

Only signed up for the £5k. To be paid to say 'they will get there' .

 

[letsgoforit]

Who on TFF has signed up to the SFI Pilot?

What options have you chosen?

My agreement started 1st December and I have opted for grassland soil advanced standards, improved grassland intermediate standards and hedgerow introductory standards.

So far the process has been pretty straight forward and smooth. We had a couple of field parcels listed as arable but were grassland and the RPA got them changed reasonably quickly hence my 1st Dec start date and not 1st Nov as I had hoped.

I was expecting more correspondence from the RPA asking for feedback but not had any yet.

Interested in other peoples experiences so far.

I have signed up one of my upland farms, like you had little correspondence back from them, I honestly think this scheme is so badly funded not many will sign up, for upland sheep farmers you have to have the grass ungrazed in the middle of summer just when all the sheep and lambs need the most, this farm is spare to me so can comply but it won't work for most I think

 

[steveR]

I have signed up one of my upland farms, like you had little correspondence back from them, I honestly think this scheme is so badly funded not many will sign up, for upland sheep farmers you have to have the grass ungrazed in the middle of summer just when all the sheep and lambs need the most, this farm is spare to me so can comply but it won't work for most I think

Bonkers...

 

[Farma Parma]

This BPS major change with really nothing Finanicially Matching to replace it is going to wipe out alot of genuine farmers in the UK
Yet our Gov hasnt the slighest care about being self sufficent in high quality food production.
Lets just hope the world is short of food as crazy as that sounds but it keeps prices pushed up

 

[BrianV]

Yes, the standards you signed up to in the pilot will stay as they are.

We've updated the standards for the main scheme, outside the pilot, based on the feedback we've had so far, to make them simpler and more practicable on farm. We'll continue learning through the pilot to inform the next iteration of the standards for the main scheme.

If it helps: the pilot is our research and development wing, where we test things before we roll them out more widely - that means the pilot will inevitably be different to the main scheme. We'll work with our pilot participants to make sure they have all the information they need as we go along.

​

Janet why is it that Northern Ireland is able to come up with sensible workable solutions for both farmers & environmentalists that Defra seem totally incapable of being able to.​

Surely you & your people can see that unless you are careful what you are currently proposing will end in an embarrassing mess that will reflect extremely badly on Defra's ability!

​

Area aids and headage payments key part of NI farm support​

UFU president Victor Chestnutt, Robert Workman, farmer in Larne, and Daera minister Edwin Poots © UFU
A major consultation has been launched in Northern Ireland seeking views on a wide range of policy measures that will form the basis of future post-Brexit support for farmers – including direct area payments and headage payments.
It follows on from the Future Agricultural Policy Framework Portfolio launched by agriculture minster Edwin Poots last August, adding considerable detail to the broad objectives of increased farm productivity, care for the environment, business resilience and a fairer supply chain.
See also: Farm policy gathers pace in UK devolved regions
“This is the first time in almost 50 years that we have a unique opportunity to redefine our agricultural policy and target support to meet our local priorities and needs much more effectively,” said Mr Poots.
“Schemes and support are needed to help farmers develop their businesses, no matter where they farm, to become more efficient and to maximise the sustainable returns they can achieve from the assets at their disposal.”

Consultation details​

The consultation, which runs to 124 pages, describes eight main workstreams, as follows:

1. A resilience measure – with area-based income payments to provide a basic safety net. This will account for the bulk of the support budget initially, but will be reduced over time. It will include “farm sustainability standards” to replace current cross-compliance.
   Plus…. A crisis framework – including market intervention and private storage aid in the event of a market collapse.
2. A headage sustainability package – accounting for 17% of the budget, this will include support for suckler cows and a “beef transformation measure”.
3. A farming for nature package – with bespoke agri-environment schemes which, over time, will become the “central plank” of support in NI.
4. Farming for carbon measures – providing incentives and training to cut emissions.
5. An investment measure – with grants to increase productivity and to reduce carbon, ammonia and nitrate emissions.
6. Knowledge measures – with an emphasis on continual professional development.
7. A generational renewal measure – to transition farming businesses to those with better training and skills, and who have “a longer investment horizon”.
8. Supply chain measures – encouraging farmer collaboration and a fairer supply chain.

The consultation explores each of these in considerable detail, and then asks stakeholders a series of specific questions relating to each.
For example, on the resilience measure it explains that future payments will be made on an area basis, triggered by land entitlements, which will continue to be transferable. The minimum claim size will rise to 10ha.

Explore moreKnow How​

Visit our Know How centre for practical farming advice

The money will only go to active farmers – excluding those who simply have grass-selling businesses or just manage their land to achieve good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) – and payments will be progressively capped above £60,000.

Reaction​

Initial farmer response has been positive.
Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president Victor Chestnutt described it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine agriculture policies and support.
“It’s extremely positive that the focus of the new future ag policy is on active farmers and growers,” he said.
“Working to meet the growing demand for food both at home and abroad, while also protecting the environment and meeting the demands of climate change, it’s vital that our members are equipped with the right tools to become more efficient resulting in maximum returns.”