Lincolnshire Farmers HLS refused permission to cultivate

[Hereward]

https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/environment/farmers-land-locked-out-of-production-after-hls-agreement

So what's happened here, why after ten years of HLS can they not revert back to normal?

 

[DRC]

Moved the goal posts as in new legislation it seems. Our HLS ended 3 years ago, with me ploughing up the Arable reversion , back into wheat. My BPS still comes up prepopulated that it’s permant pasture, despite me entering wheat on the claim form since then.
I’d be very careful now of being in a scheme unless I was prepared for life

 

[Hereward]

Moved the goal posts as in new legislation it seems. Our HLS ended 3 years ago, with me ploughing up the Arable reversion , back into wheat. My BPS still comes up prepopulated that it’s permant pasture, despite me entering wheat on the claim form since then.
I’d be very careful now of being in a scheme unless I was prepared for life

You need to change the land cover with the RPA, if its a whole parcel it can be done over the phone if not an RLE1 form.

 

[DRC]

You need to change the land cover with the RPA, if its a whole parcel it can be done over the phone if not an RLE1 form.

I input a new land code every year when doing the BPS , ie- wheat, barley maize etc.
It’s just those two fields that keep reverting to PP

 

[Hereward]

I input a new land code every year when doing the BPS , ie- wheat, barley maize etc.
It’s just those two fields that keep reverting to PP

Land use and Land cover are different, you cannot change land cover on the BPS form apart from automatic changes.

 

[ajcc]

Imagine NE think they can assume property rights over these guys land....devalue the freehold from 10k/acre down to 3k over 450 acres.
That is where the environmental versus agricultural are about to clash big time.
Anyone still considering these schemes??

 

[Hereward]

What actually changed though, something about the EIA's in early 2017 but what?

 

[Adeptandy]

I was led to believe EIA's were for PP established for more than 10 years, so a HLS was ok to revert without an issue

I'll find out what mine is like next BPS, only been out a year but got paid ok

 

[DrWazzock]

Which is why don't do schemes any more.

Thin end of the of the wedge. Weasel worded small print.

 

[sticky]

As a family partnership we did the old css for ten years but since being on my own I have refused to look at any schemes.

 

[Adeptandy]

Just checked this year BPS, all fields that I successfully claimed on last year are again PP even though they paid out with just a change of code in Land Use

 

[Hereward]

Just checked this year BPS, all fields that I successfully claimed on last year are again PP even though they paid out with just a change of code in Land Use

As above you need to change the land cover, can be done over the phone or with an RLE1 form.

 

[Extreme Optimist]

NE are the most shocking organisation. They could give the Gestapo lessons!! Their contracts mean nothing. They are totally one sided and I wouldn't trust them at all.
If they lose all trust of their clients nobody is going to sign up with them. Even farmers who are environmentally sympathetic are not signing new agreements. Not sure where the NFU are in cases like this!

 

[Adeptandy]

As above you need to change the land cover, can be done over the phone or with an RLE1 form.

I've got a heap of RLE1 pain this year, 17 fields all need alterations now the fences are down sectioning parts off

 

[steveR]

Imagine NE think they can assume property rights over these guys land....devalue the freehold from 10k/acre down to 3k over 450 acres.
That is where the environmental versus agricultural are about to clash big time.
Anyone still considering these schemes??

Not again.....

Once the present Agreement ends in 2021, it'll take an awful lot to convince me to renew...

 

[steveR]

NE are the most shocking organisation. They could give the Gestapo lessons!! Their contracts mean nothing. They are totally one sided and I wouldn't trust them at all.
If they lose all trust of their clients nobody is going to sign up with them. Even farmers who are environmentally sympathetic are not signing new agreements. Not sure where the NFU are in cases like this!

NFU....? Confused and not willing to tackle NE/RPA unless it's a cut and dried case.

 

[steveR]

A Natural England spokesman said: “We have a statutory responsibility to ensure that land of such important environmental significance is appropriately protected.

“In the fields that contain historic environment features, ploughing and returning them to arable production could damage or destroy them and therefore the activities proposed were likely to have a significant effect on the environment.”

Idiots! The fact that the land has been ploughed and farmed for decades seems not affect their decision...

 

[Extreme Optimist]

NFU....? Confused and not willing to tackle NE/RPA unless it's a cut and dried case.

Well they did for me. On an individual basis, they were excellent.....or maybe I just have a very good representative.
On a national scale I would question the NFU's actions against NE. It just appears to be accepted that NE can do exactly what they like without any recriminations.

 

[steveR]

A Natural England spokesman said: “We have a statutory responsibility to ensure that land of such important environmental significance is appropriately protected.

“In the fields that contain historic environment features, ploughing and returning them to arable production could damage or destroy them and therefore the activities proposed were likely to have a significant effect on the environment.”

Idiots! The fact that the land has been ploughed and farmed for decades seems not affect their decision...

 

[steveR]

Well they did for me. On an individual basis, they were excellent.....or maybe I just have a very good representative.
On a national scale I would question the NFU's actions against NE. It just appears to be accepted that NE can do exactly what they like without any recriminations.

That seemed to be the response I am getting from HQ, but as you have found, local reps are good.