Its the old agreement under new rules!! It cant be a mirror because multi annual 2yr options are not divisable by 5.. yet again Maths and DEFRA are completly lacking as they cant count to 5!!!
Countryside stewardship extension offer
- Thread starter Jack Russell
- Start date
I queried this with the NE Adviser who "offered" me an extension, and she confirmed at that time, that this issue of backdated penalties was a concern to some Farmers to such an extent that the offers were not being taken up.... She was not willing to offer me any reassurance that Penalties would NOT start from 2000 (in my case) in the event of a breach being found. Having already had an expensive visit from a less than truthful Inspector 2 years previous, I was less than enthusiastic...
Apparently, a farmer could also potentially be found in breach of the same error on a 2n occasion, and have penalties backdated to the original start of the Agreement again too!
I refused the Offer....
Last edited:
Coximus
Member
I wouldnt touch any Stewardship ever now - I graze some steward land thats now out of scheme - it supported dairy in the 90's. I could handle a good forage crop in summer and sustain sheep through winter, decent grazing.
HLS restrictions have rendered it producing rough crap hay in of low yeild, and sheep cant thrive on it, in reality they loose form without supplementing which isnt allowed........... only achived by feeding in a neighbouring feild with open gate. Its free so I take it, its somewhere to put culls before they go.
In reality CS does not in anyway pay enough at todays rates to even come near the loss of production profit and income that it causes, plus In many cases you end the agrement but find they still have you by the balls on grassland - Lime it afterwards and they will say its damaging a habitat - if your on the wrong side of them, or you get a keen NE eco numpty, your basically screwed.
Your far better spending a few quid and Liming your land, even the crappest rough ground, with lime added is going to have a revenue boost greater than many CS options.
Throw in some fertility and better management.........
Obviously moorland and some harder farms are a different kettle of fish - Im not suggesting someone in the lakes or high dales can turn their fell into good ground!
HLS restrictions have rendered it producing rough crap hay in of low yeild, and sheep cant thrive on it, in reality they loose form without supplementing which isnt allowed........... only achived by feeding in a neighbouring feild with open gate. Its free so I take it, its somewhere to put culls before they go.
In reality CS does not in anyway pay enough at todays rates to even come near the loss of production profit and income that it causes, plus In many cases you end the agrement but find they still have you by the balls on grassland - Lime it afterwards and they will say its damaging a habitat - if your on the wrong side of them, or you get a keen NE eco numpty, your basically screwed.
Your far better spending a few quid and Liming your land, even the crappest rough ground, with lime added is going to have a revenue boost greater than many CS options.
Throw in some fertility and better management.........
Obviously moorland and some harder farms are a different kettle of fish - Im not suggesting someone in the lakes or high dales can turn their fell into good ground!
As I understand, we have now moved HLS agreements from the EU to UK legislation and therefore, there is no backdating of penalties before 1st January 2023. I understood this to be a key move in being able to offer 5 year roll overs.I queried this with the NE Adviser who "offered" me an extension, and she confirmed at that time, that this issue of backdated penalties was a concern to some Farmers to such an extent that the offers were not being taken up.... She was not willing to offer me any reassurance that Penalties would NOT start from 2000 (in my case) in the event of a breach being found. Having already had an expensive visit from a less than truthful Inspector 2 years previous, I was less than enthusiastic...
Apparently, a farmer could also potentially be found in breach of the same error on a 2n occasion, and have penalties backdated to the original start of the Agreement again too!
I refused the Offer....
I totally agree with the highlighted phrases that @Huno has made.Adobe Acrobat
acrobat.adobe.com
The only way out of an HLS 5 year roll over without penalties, is by entering another scheme of equal merit.
@Janet Hughes Defra will Natural England have to issue 5 year SSSI consent to 5 year HLS roll overs, or will NE not permit a five year HLS roll over because they do not feel they can offer a five year SSSI consent?
I am concerned that many of our common land agreements will be lost because NE will not offer five year SSSI consents.
A one year rolling SSSI consent will not be adequate in a five year HLS scheme due to potential penalties of leaving the HLS 5 year scheme early.
How can we ensure common land agreements are offered five year roll overs and five SSSI consents are granted?
I am concerned that many of our common land agreements will be lost because NE will not offer five year SSSI consents.
A one year rolling SSSI consent will not be adequate in a five year HLS scheme due to potential penalties of leaving the HLS 5 year scheme early.
How can we ensure common land agreements are offered five year roll overs and five SSSI consents are granted?
Stw88
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
These sssi consents boil my p*ss, why on earth do we have to apply to natural England to get permission to go into a scheme that they have written and approved! More unnecessary paperwork to keep some civil servants in a job!
SSSI consent are now the only way that NE can control schemes as they are run by the RPA.
They are a manipulative tool rather than anything benefical.