Countryside Stewardship offer

D14

Member
So we've had an offer which basically over the 5 years pays out at just over £200/ha/year for the land it occupies. This is all land that is currently in margins or game cover. Its field corners and around shaded woods etc and then some overwintered stubbles which we do anyway for spring cropping. I know many farmers are waiting for payments but irrelevant of that I just am not sure about joining it. The only real cost to us is some new seed mixtures and some establishment costs although they won't be drastic as it would been going into game cover anyway so we would have those costs anyway.
Its been a pain to tender for it as they don't make it very easy but now we've got the offer on the table I'm just not sure even though most of the payment is going to be clear profit. Anybody else done a u turn and not joined?
 

DRC

Member
IIRC @silverfox had an stewardship offer, I think 2 yrs running? But declined both.
Hope I've got that right:unsure:
Yes , I did two u turns. The agreements I were offered didn’t come anywhere near the old HLS agreement . The second time I was worried by reading of late or non payment , as I’d put down for quite a few acres in legume fallow. I was also fed up of the weedy margins and thought bring out was at least one inspection less to worry about.
If it’s non productive areas and you’ve no rent to pay , it may well suit .
 

D14

Member
Yes , I did two u turns. The agreements I were offered didn’t come anywhere near the old HLS agreement . The second time I was worried by reading of late or non payment , as I’d put down for quite a few acres in legume fallow. I was also fed up of the weedy margins and thought bring out was at least one inspection less to worry about.
If it’s non productive areas and you’ve no rent to pay , it may well suit .

Yes no rent on the land in question and as said the £200/ha/year would literally be profit as the margins and corners don’t earn currently other than SFP which we’d claim as well. The over wintered stubble we do anyway and don’t get paid for so it’s kind of money for very little extra expense or work really. But still I’m unsure.
 

Wooly

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Romney Marsh
If you are not relying on the money at a set date, can deal with the inspections and the other crap that goes with the CSS, then go for it.

Just remember that common sense and Natural England / RPA don't go together, so if you are a person that gets frustrated with people that are pen pushers with no practical experience then maybe you should steer clear.

Take the devils money, play by the devils rules !!
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
So we've had an offer which basically over the 5 years pays out at just over £200/ha/year for the land it occupies. This is all land that is currently in margins or game cover. Its field corners and around shaded woods etc and then some overwintered stubbles which we do anyway for spring cropping. I know many farmers are waiting for payments but irrelevant of that I just am not sure about joining it. The only real cost to us is some new seed mixtures and some establishment costs although they won't be drastic as it would been going into game cover anyway so we would have those costs anyway.
Its been a pain to tender for it as they don't make it very easy but now we've got the offer on the table I'm just not sure even though most of the payment is going to be clear profit. Anybody else done a u turn and not joined?
Crack on if you have done the hard bit and you don't 'need' the money ie its all stuff you would be doing anyway. Then I would feel happier as someone else would be in the same boat.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
So we've had an offer which basically over the 5 years pays out at just over £200/ha/year for the land it occupies. This is all land that is currently in margins or game cover. Its field corners and around shaded woods etc and then some overwintered stubbles which we do anyway for spring cropping. I know many farmers are waiting for payments but irrelevant of that I just am not sure about joining it. The only real cost to us is some new seed mixtures and some establishment costs although they won't be drastic as it would been going into game cover anyway so we would have those costs anyway.
Its been a pain to tender for it as they don't make it very easy but now we've got the offer on the table I'm just not sure even though most of the payment is going to be clear profit. Anybody else done a u turn and not joined?

Nope. I joined the Higher Tier scheme, having put a lot of effort into the application. It's worth a six figure sum over 5 years for marginal land & we'd already got most of the features in anyway.

If you take the taxpayer's coin then you're going to have to jump through the hoops they put up. It could well be 5 years before DEFRA come up with a workable ELMS plan.

The only twinge of regret I have is the extra work I have to do for BPS Greening as I didn't want to reduce the payments with double claiming.

I fear we will all be forced into this in due course
Nick...

Only if you want a payment for it!
 

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
I’ve been contemplating applying for stewardship .... similar measures to the op.
Previously been in CSS and ELS and still have many elements of those schemes in place but not getting paid for them. I’ve been put off by tales of non-payment and having to deal with jobsworths at Natural England! I’m also unsure what hoops we’ll have jump through in a couple of years time to claim BPS (or whatever they call it next), so don’t want to snooker myself with another commitment.
 

essex man

Member
Location
colchester
Have had an mid-tier agreement running since june but no money arrived yet.
8 hectares of marginal land put down to ab15 (2 year legume fallow)@ £500 per h.
Plus some other bits and bobs.
If you want paying on time, reasonable business like behaviour you not gonna get it.
But £500 per h per year for 2 years minus £70ish for the seed and topping time/fuel is not terrible money for terrible land.
 
I was in the same boat but have accepted. It’s just the basic arable offer I’ve gone for after having the nightmare of the original hls and late payment, dealing with muppetry and having inspections where they’ve missed half the farm then sent us the bill for it etc. However, with the way things are heading I thought it wise to have one foot in the door with the environmental agenda. I also do really enjoy having the bird life and insects; a conservationist at heart.
 

nick...

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
south norfolk
It must be a british disease being told what to do and all doing it.we must all be mad but no choice n the matter,then the powers that be with hold payment for some ridiculous reason.they must have millions held back.
Nick...
 

farmerm

Member
Location
Shropshire
Its time as an industry we stand as one. No one should sign another stewardship agreement until the RPA modify the terms. We now know we can no longer enter these agreements in good faith. The agreements must lay out legally binding payment schedules and penalty measures should the RPA fail to meet their part of the agreement.
 

Farmer T

Member
Location
East Midlands
Something strange is happening with me at the moment.

I have received some fines from an inspection in 2017. Under the old ELS as long as you had carried out the whole scheme with good faith and were still over the threshold you weren’t fined.

It seems the CSS finds you for every tiny difference from your application against the inspectors report, no matter how incorrect the report is and you have to fight each point.

The amazing is they have DOUBLED my fine as they want the same penalties for the 2016 year as well as they ‘presume’ the same mistakes were made although no one inspected my farm in that year.

Has anyone else had this? I’m more than tempted to get legal representation against this as it seems farcical. Has anyone any recommendations apart from the NFU/TFA groups?
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Something strange is happening with me at the moment.

I have received some fines from an inspection in 2017. Under the old ELS as long as you had carried out the whole scheme with good faith and were still over the threshold you weren’t fined.

It seems the CSS finds you for every tiny difference from your application against the inspectors report, no matter how incorrect the report is and you have to fight each point.

The amazing is they have DOUBLED my fine as they want the same penalties for the 2016 year as well as they ‘presume’ the same mistakes were made although no one inspected my farm in that year.

Has anyone else had this? I’m more than tempted to get legal representation against this as it seems farcical. Has anyone any recommendations apart from the NFU/TFA groups?
That fills me with dread.
 
Something strange is happening with me at the moment.

I have received some fines from an inspection in 2017. Under the old ELS as long as you had carried out the whole scheme with good faith and were still over the threshold you weren’t fined.

It seems the CSS finds you for every tiny difference from your application against the inspectors report, no matter how incorrect the report is and you have to fight each point.

The amazing is they have DOUBLED my fine as they want the same penalties for the 2016 year as well as they ‘presume’ the same mistakes were made although no one inspected my farm in that year.

Has anyone else had this? I’m more than tempted to get legal representation against this as it seems farcical. Has anyone any recommendations apart from the NFU/TFA groups?
When they inspect have some one with them at all times to show that they are being watched
If you use an agent get them to be with the inspector
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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