Help for young farmers - SFI and CS

[FarmingFran]

I've filled out the SFI actions and had an agreement but I'm struggling with the CS application . I'm 22 and not currently a member of young farmers, although I am with the NFU. Is there any free help (farm advisory) geared towards young farmers with an extremely limited support network that can help me with the paperwork for a CS agreement as I'm feeling a bit in over my head and the GOV.uk website couldn't be any less clear. I'm especially interested in training grants as I'm looking to diversify the farm; beekeeping especially.

 

[ploughman1963]

There are often (round here anyway) help sessions- where Rpa, AHDB, rural help networks (and agents) have a day in a village hall to assist people with filling in their forms and offer advice. The nearest to me is the Herefordshire rural hub - try messaging them and they might know of such events near you. Could a local ag college/tutor help?

 

[egbert]

As said, there's often some regional/local org that'll be arranging meetings to give guidance - although we never attend from this household, as the guidance is inevitably too generic and shallow for our very complex holding.
(complexity regards CS and the like )
There's a lot of info you don't give.....how much land are you in charge of, what kind of land, where you want to take it.
Bee keeping could be done off a handkerchief sized footprint.
I salute you for grappling with it at 22....at that age I was principally interested in how much ale I could hold at the tavern.

CS can be hideously complicated (ours is a huge document, and we barely understand it.
If you have to, pay an agent, although that goes against the grain in every way.
Don't rush at it, or commit to a 5/10 year term with conditions that you might regret before you've a bit more mileage behind you.
Thinking on it, i'd be talking to older farmers in the locality, and sounding them out.

 

[Tubbylew]

Unfortunately, there seems to be no specific help for young farmers despite early promises.

 

[Rich_ard]

In Scotland there is the FAS which I don't understand. They say you are entitled to advice but I suspect they turn up have a look around the bill the government for your visit. I did ask them to at a show but never heard from them again. I find a agricultural show and target specif stands who are able to tell you. They seam more open and free to talk.

 

[Rich_ard]

Unfortunately, there seems to be no specific help for young farmers despite early promises.

The worst thing is timing. Not so bad for me now but when trying to start you are try to align so much and claim what you can but not miss deadlines not claim what you can't commit to or fulfill in the future. It's just frustrating. All you can do is slowly work forward and hope things fall in place. Always take government money if you can but accept if you can't move on and be ready for it in the future.

 

[homefarm]

Do you qualify for anything here?

Farming Resilience Fund: free business advice for your farm

Basic Payment Scheme recipients can get free advice from organisations during the changes in farming, supported by the Farming Resilience Fund.

www.gov.uk

 

[ploughman1963]

Where are you? Wales has farming connect which is very good at mentoring/helping

 

[FarmingFran]

I'm in Suffolk. 60 acres permanent grassland, I've got beef cattle and I've got an SFI agreement. I want to get CS so I can claim capital grants but the website is unclear which part of CS you can get if you're in SFI and the whole thing is super confusing. I did look at farm advisory but it seemed primarily financial/business advice and the one I found wanted £100 to ring them and ask specifically about CS. I was hoping there'd be a YF scheme for help with the paperwork for grant applications as I'm not in a position to hire an agent or pay for a phone call. I understand theres the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 but as usual the government website is about as useful as a chocolate tea pot offering free training but none of the links work. Any mentoring/ free training service would be helpful but I particularly need help finding and applying for the grants. And I'm finding it tricky to connect locally as I didn't grow up here and I'm young.

 

[egbert]

Sounds like you're doing very well fer such a young'un.
Doesn't help you in your quest though.

CS was already monstrously complex before brexit....although on 60 acres of PP you'd think it'd be simple enough.
Try contacting a human being within DEFRA...there must be some?
Get a contact, and tap em for advice.
If no-one will help, hint you're writing a widely followed blog about getting into CS!

What sort of beef enterprise are you running?

 

[Tubbylew]

I'm in Suffolk. 60 acres permanent grassland, I've got beef cattle and I've got an SFI agreement. I want to get CS so I can claim capital grants but the website is unclear which part of CS you can get if you're in SFI and the whole thing is super confusing. I did look at farm advisory but it seemed primarily financial/business advice and the one I found wanted £100 to ring them and ask specifically about CS. I was hoping there'd be a YF scheme for help with the paperwork for grant applications as I'm not in a position to hire an agent or pay for a phone call. I understand theres the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 but as usual the government website is about as useful as a chocolate tea pot offering free training but none of the links work. Any mentoring/ free training service would be helpful but I particularly need help finding and applying for the grants. And I'm finding it tricky to connect locally as I didn't grow up here and I'm young.

Are some of the capital grants not standalone now, at least thats something i was told at an sfi meeting a few months back, mind, I may have been asleep.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

I'm in Suffolk. 60 acres permanent grassland, I've got beef cattle and I've got an SFI agreement. I want to get CS so I can claim capital grants but the website is unclear which part of CS you can get if you're in SFI and the whole thing is super confusing. I did look at farm advisory but it seemed primarily financial/business advice and the one I found wanted £100 to ring them and ask specifically about CS. I was hoping there'd be a YF scheme for help with the paperwork for grant applications as I'm not in a position to hire an agent or pay for a phone call. I understand theres the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 but as usual the government website is about as useful as a chocolate tea pot offering free training but none of the links work. Any mentoring/ free training service would be helpful but I particularly need help finding and applying for the grants. And I'm finding it tricky to connect locally as I didn't grow up here and I'm young.

You are after the capital grants scheme which you can do separate to a full CSS.

You apply through your RPA log in, then go to your business, then CS, then CS applications, the click apply for capital grants.

There is guidance on evidence and what you can apply for here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2024

 

[Manny]

Catchment sensitive farming offer free advice on what is out there in the way of grants from the government and some water companies. It my be worth trying them. I have heard very good reports from some people who have found great advisors but one or two reports of slightly poorer advisors. It just depends on who you get. Must be worth a try as it's free.

 

[FarmingFran]

Yeah I'm after the captial grants. I can see it on the RPA log in, it even offers me a list of grants (options finder tool) but thats the end of it there's nothing further except a link to the general GOV website and it says something about applying for CS. I don't have an existing CS agreement and I don't understand how to apply for the capital grants without it. Also with the SFI it says I'm only eligible for higher tier but I only qualify for mid and the applications for mid and wildlife are now closed?

 

[Manny]

If your a member of nfu give nfu call first a ring. They are very knowledgeable on most of these grants and might be able to get you some help help with form filling.