Countryside Productivity Small Grant scheme rejection

[buffalo_soldier]

I am talking to them and I can appeal but if they uphold the decision then I will definitely loose the grant on the other items as well. The seller believed it would meet the grant spec and he tells me others have bought the same crush on the scheme. I was hoping someone who has might see this and pass on their experiences

Hope you get sorted, I'd be ringing the seller as well.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

How much was it if you don't mind me asking? Always like the look of them

 

[farmer on a bike]

How much was it if you don't mind me asking? Always like the look of them

Not far off £7k. We wanted that one because it gives safer handling and was recommended by our vets, ironic considering the RPA say it fails because it is less safe! We have talked to the sellers who agree with us.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Not far off £7k. We wanted that one because it gives safer handling and was recommended by our vets, ironic considering the RPA say it fails because it is less safe! We have talked to the sellers who agree with us.

Any second hand ones I have seen look like new, the powder coating is a proper job

 

[redsloe]

Know of a farmer who has had his grant claim for a direct drill thrown out. Apparently a Mazuri doesn’t meet their criteria for a Direct Drill.

Seems a bit harsh, just looked it up and it's pretty low disturbance!
I imagine they don't like the words 'strip till'.
Would it have been through the Exeter office?

 

[An Gof]

Seems a bit harsh, just looked it up and it's pretty low disturbance!
I imagine they don't like the words 'strip till'.
Would it have been through the Exeter office?

I’m not sure, claimant is a bit north of Devon. Does it make a difference? Are you suggesting that EXETER are more difficult?
Anyone else put a claim in on a Mazuri and has it paid?

 

[redsloe]

Don't know. Spoke to Exeter in the Autumn and they weren't particularly helpful!
I would suggest getting them to speak to mzuri and find out if anybody else in the country has claimed for a similar drill and if they had any success. No harm in asking the question.

 

[farmerm]

I was told it just had to fit the spec, they definitely do not have a list of approved suppliers.

Not formally a list of approved suppliers but some of the specifications are specific in certain unexplainable and unnecessary ways....!! It is almost those writing the requirements had some underhand reason why they want you to purchase a very specific product from a specific manufacture either that or they intentionally built in lots of escape clauses to avoid paying out when paying out didn't suit them! I am involved with a company that are distributors for weather stations and when we looked into this we couldn't put together a package that was eligible, I can safely say we have never had a farmer request either barometric pressure or a UV sensor on a farm weather station, it adds costs but adds little value to a grower, indeed I doubt many standard, farm level, weather stations can be configured with both UV and Solar radiation sensors... in our opinion it is also rare that the site for the weather station is the appropriate site to install a soil moisture sensor... better to have them separate... and the standard cost of "£2687" is very peculiar, that's like saying the "standard cost" of a new pickup is £24,456.54.... In my opinion this unusual specification and this "standard price" can only have be arrived at by looking at a very specific configuration of product from one very specific supplier or maybe it is just pure fiction? Now if this was Africa I would be thinking some bribery and back handers are involved... but as it is the UK I put it down to incompetency!!

These grants are arse about face! The grant for any item should be pre-approved before any items are purchased in order that these potentially very expensive rejections post purchase do not happen!!

 

[farmer on a bike]

Well, after some heated discussions with a line manager and a promise to refer it to their ‘experts’ plus asking the NFU for help, I had a call this morning saying they have agreed to pay the grant. I suspect the next round may have even more tightly defined specs written.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Well, after some heated discussions with a line manager and a promise to refer it to their ‘experts’ plus asking the NFU for help, I had a call this morning saying they have agreed to pay the grant. I suspect the next round may have even more tightly defined specs written.

Is there going to be a next time?

 

[Sid]

Is there going to be a next time?

From what I understand there will be yes.
Final round.

 

[stablegirl]

We had trouble on the first round as did a few friends, i decided if i ever got to apply again i would get written consent on each item. Not helpful to yourself, but glad you got sorted.

 

[jondear]

We had trouble on the first round as did a few friends, i decided if i ever got to apply again i would get written consent on each item. Not helpful to yourself, but glad you got sorted.

Thats what we did .Got quote asked if it met there spec job done hopefully!

 

[som farmer]

well if its anything like mid tier, it will have lapsed before a decision. We haven't heard, whether our application, to start jan 1 2020, is accepted or not. The only benefit we have had so far, is, having had an EA inspection, I could honestly say, in response to his 'dislikes', we have applied for a grant for that, He also said he would recommend a CSF visit, 29th of may, earliest date.

 

[Princess Pooper]

well if its anything like mid tier, it will have lapsed before a decision. We haven't heard, whether our application, to start jan 1 2020, is accepted or not. The only benefit we have had so far, is, having had an EA inspection, I could honestly say, in response to his 'dislikes', we have applied for a grant for that, He also said he would recommend a CSF visit, 29th of may, earliest date.

Got a client who also has not heard for a 2020 agreement yet, although we know they are working on it as we had a 'final stage' query last week.

 

[som farmer]

Got a client who also has not heard for a 2020 agreement yet, although we know they are working on it as we had a 'final stage' query last week.

we live in hope. But as it includes new hedges, all in a rush next winter, as to late for this.

 

[Princess Pooper]

we live in hope. But as it includes new hedges, all in a rush next winter, as to late for this.

same here.

 

[Princess Pooper]

we live in hope. But as it includes new hedges, all in a rush next winter, as to late for this.

Agreement arrived by email today!

 

[foxbox]

Not formally a list of approved suppliers but some of the specifications are specific in certain unexplainable and unnecessary ways....!! It is almost those writing the requirements had some underhand reason why they want you to purchase a very specific product from a specific manufacture either that or they intentionally built in lots of escape clauses to avoid paying out when paying out didn't suit them! I am involved with a company that are distributors for weather stations and when we looked into this we couldn't put together a package that was eligible, I can safely say we have never had a farmer request either barometric pressure or a UV sensor on a farm weather station, it adds costs but adds little value to a grower, indeed I doubt many standard, farm level, weather stations can be configured with both UV and Solar radiation sensors... in our opinion it is also rare that the site for the weather station is the appropriate site to install a soil moisture sensor... better to have them separate... and the standard cost of "£2687" is very peculiar, that's like saying the "standard cost" of a new pickup is £24,456.54.... In my opinion this unusual specification and this "standard price" can only have be arrived at by looking at a very specific configuration of product from one very specific supplier or maybe it is just pure fiction? Now if this was Africa I would be thinking some bribery and back handers are involved... but as it is the UK I put it down to incompetency!!

These grants are arse about face! The grant for any item should be pre-approved before any items are purchased in order that these potentially very expensive rejections post purchase do not happen!!

Some of the items give the distinct impression someone has googled "weather station with all the options" and then used the basket price as the grant spec, that's for sure. We looked at that specific option and I found a weather station online matching the exact spec, pretty sure it was that price too. I totally agree though; one bought with that funding wouldn't be fully utilised here and so an unfunded alternative at much less money makes more sense if we need one in the first place.

I've been to meetings about the UK post Brexit replacement for these schemes; the Defra staff are keen to get it right and have some innovative ideas for the future but would be the first to admit they don't have the practical experience to judge every aspect of every item themselves. I think though some of it comes down to the need for funding like this to fund beyond standard practice or specification, otherwise it it's not a lot more than a direct subsidy which opens a whole new can of worms.

 

[Sid]

Some of the items give the distinct impression someone has googled "weather station with all the options" and then used the basket price as the grant spec, that's for sure. We looked at that specific option and I found a weather station online matching the exact spec, pretty sure it was that price too. I totally agree though; one bought with that funding wouldn't be fully utilised here and so an unfunded alternative at much less money makes more sense if we need one in the first place.

Sorry for repeating myself from previous grant threads but decide what you NEED, then look and see if there is a grant available.
Do not think, oooooo that would be nice and buy something that is a white elephant or more money , higher spec that will cost over the grant gain.


Watch for cheap milking robots in a few years time cause bought as there was a grant not because they were needed or a good fit