Countryside stewardship... is it worth it?

[Penmoel]

Until NE decide that they want a true partnership with landowners for environmental benefit rather than an antagonistic relationship whereby they agree to give you money to do (or not do) stuff then spend the next 5 years trying their best to take said money away from you again, then you can count me out.

I realise this thread is exclusive to our English neighbours.

However the sentiments above could just as easily be said about GLASTIR from RPW

I'm out.

 

[banjo]

Get used to basic sub now or it will be a bigger shock when it's gone.
I don't know one farmer who wants to f**k up the environment or destroy animal habitat out of choice, it's a system to get you and your farm under their control, nothing else.
It is purely there to create non jobs and to point a big stick at you to stop people being creative. And before anyone sais about pollution and other things, there are uk laws to sort that out

 

[Steevo]

You can do some capital work without joining mid tier which is what we done just under 5k worth
I did look at this within the mid tier but there was not much I would want to take up being all PP and wanting to stay like that didn't help much if I recall correct

what did you end up doing?

 

[franklin]

Ordered packs a month ago. Received nothing. Well, except letters saying now we have our packs would we like to chat to someone about applying? Well, given my agent has ordered the packs and not received them, perhaps I would actually just like the packs.

I'm thinking now we should apply simply to make my life easier with paid-for buffers around watercourses.

 

[Henarar]

what did you end up doing?

hedge laying

 

[Steevo]

I thought it was designed deliberately to be unworkable so they could say, LOOK, Farmers are not interested in the environment,then use the money they steal off use to waste on some other +++++++.

1. Farmers were led by food producing subs. Extra grants given to remove hedges, drain fields etc. Farmers able to manage their farm using their own experience, knowledge, skills and motivation in the way they thought best whilst trying to make a living.
   
2. Subs stopped, and it all became about "Cross Compliance" for an area payment.
3. Modulation was introduced, and farmers were encouraged to enter ELS/HLS to "get back their money". ELS was broad brush, many farmers being paid for what they already do but this time just recording it.
4. Once the RPA knew what farmers were doing, they hiked the bar up. ELS/HLS was dropped, and Mid/Higher Tier introduced instead.

• ELS incorporated into greening. Do some environmental goods to keep 30% of your income. (conveniently ignoring that farmers already lose ~20% of money to modulation that used to pay for this.
• Modulation money goes to pay for mid tier scheme (most lost in admin I'm sure!) which benefits a smaller number of larger farms (many of whom took grants in 1). It works well for these farms as scale means they can do the paperwork at lower per acre cost, they also have a wider spread of land so less marginal areas can earn money on these schemes, a 6-figure payment sum rather than £1500 for the smaller farmer is too good to turn away and is a meaningful sum that will actually help the business.....but also means they can't afford not to.

 

[Red Fred]

It seems from what I've seen that they think bigger estates can provide a more "holistic" approach (to use the hated buzzword) and are angling it that way. The estates often control other interests such as the fishing, and have the resources and long term interest to carry out their wishes. A local water bailiff told me recently that the rented farms aren't really important any more as they derive far more income from the river.
I'm reminded of a recent talk about stonehenge- in our day, you went along to look at the stones in their compound whereas now, they are talking about "recreating the prehistoric landscape", which is a more ambitious project, and I wonder if NE are thinking the same way.

 

[Henarar]

they are talking about "recreating the prehistoric landscape", which is a more ambitious project, and I wonder if NE are thinking the same way.

They are going to bring back dinosaurs as well as wolves and bears ?

 

[Red Fred]

They are going to bring back dinosaurs as well as wolves and bears ?

You want to see their plans for the Jurassic Coast!

 

[banjo]

1. Farmers were led by food producing subs. Extra grants given to remove hedges, drain fields etc. Farmers able to manage their farm using their own experience, knowledge, skills and motivation in the way they thought best whilst trying to make a living.
   
2. Subs stopped, and it all became about "Cross Compliance" for an area payment.
3. Modulation was introduced, and farmers were encouraged to enter ELS/HLS to "get back their money". ELS was broad brush, many farmers being paid for what they already do but this time just recording it.
4. Once the RPA knew what farmers were doing, they hiked the bar up. ELS/HLS was dropped, and Mid/Higher Tier introduced instead.

• ELS incorporated into greening. Do some environmental goods to keep 30% of your income. (conveniently ignoring that farmers already lose ~20% of money to modulation that used to pay for this.
• Modulation money goes to pay for mid tier scheme (most lost in admin I'm sure!) which benefits a smaller number of larger farms (many of whom took grants in 1). It works well for these farms as scale means they can do the paperwork at lower per acre cost, they also have a wider spread of land so less marginal areas can earn money on these schemes, a 6-figure payment sum rather than £1500 for the smaller farmer is too good to turn away and is a meaningful sum that will actually help the business.....but also means they can't afford not to.

Yep taking from the poor smaller farms and giving to the large bigger farms, sais it all, great post

 

[Goweresque]

They are going to bring back dinosaurs as well as wolves and bears ?

The prehistoric landscape of Southern England was covered with ice for many millennia, perhaps they'd like to recreate that too?

 

[Henarar]

The prehistoric landscape of Southern England was covered with ice for many millennia, perhaps they'd like to recreate that too?

I thought last time the ice only came down as far as where the M4 is now, so we would be fine

 

[Jim t]

I am in the mid tier scheme that started in january of this year, can anyone tell me when I will get my first payment?NE are not forthcoming with this information!

 

[DKnD]

Probably on a thursday.
Nothing gets done on a Monday (it's email reading day)
Tuesdays are for meetings
Wednesday is the middle of the week, so mornings some stuff gets sorted but after the extra long lunch a lazy afternoon occurs.
Thursday....oh right best crack on.
Friday is basically clock watching for the weekend.
Yeah probably a thursday.

 

[ajcc]

NE you appear to have a problem or three.......you seem oblivious to the concerns of farmers as this thread illustrates.
CSS is it worth it? Not if you're a farmer first and a conservationist second. Or maybe a masochist.

 

[Steevo]

Probably on a thursday.
Nothing gets done on a Monday (it's email reading day)
Tuesdays are for meetings
Wednesday is the middle of the week, so mornings some stuff gets sorted but after the extra long lunch a lazy afternoon occurs.
Thursday....oh right best crack on.
Friday is basically clock watching for the weekend.
Yeah probably a thursday.

 

[JJT]

I am in the mid tier scheme that started in january of this year, can anyone tell me when I will get my first payment?NE are not forthcoming with this information!

Well we started our mid tier scheme a year gone january and still havent had a payment yet so i wouldnt hold your breath!