- Location
- West Somerset
Mid Tier Offers
- Thread starter L P
- Start date
No
- Location
- Bedfordshire
I had a phone all 2 weeks ago asking for my vendor number 
so surely they can't be that far forward?
I'm not holding out much hope, I can't really offer a lot benefits for them, but I thought it would be worth a punt, if I can get some concrete and a shed extension.
so surely they can't be that far forward? I'm not holding out much hope, I can't really offer a lot benefits for them, but I thought it would be worth a punt, if I can get some concrete and a shed extension.
Happy New Year everyone! Well as promised by Natural England we would all be hearing from them between Christmas and new year with.... news on pur applications.... as expected we have heard nothing.... as requested we contact them on the 1st of Jan to twist their ear as to what is going on... as expected the offices have been closed since the 23rd of December and don't reopen until Tuesday.... roll on Tuesday!
carpenter1
Member
- Location
- devon
i have heard nothing at all
pine_guy
Member
- Location
- North Cumbria
carpenter1
Member
- Location
- devon
if they bother to tell anyone or offer anyDon't forget that the agreement you haven't been offered yet, starts today
carpenter1
Member
- Location
- devon
Great isn't it, how do you plan for things
Exactly!.I'm seriously thinking of telling them to stick it, and grow more maize instead. If they can't even tell us in time for the start date, what chance of the payments being on time. If we get anything wrong, they'll be down on us like a ton of bricks, but it's ok for them to be late.
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
Possibly not a good idea to have your name and email, and your correspondent at NE's email on the above.
In defence of NE staff, I have found them to be actually very pleasant and helpful to deal with (unlike the mapping department of the RPA). They have gone considerably out of their way to answer my queries, and have provided responses in considerable depth and with an unexpected level of candour. I do not believe, and this is obviously my opinion, that adopting a sarcastic tone to frontline staff is going to help in any way at all. The responsibility for the delay will in all likelihood be quite complex, and will very probably not be the fault of the people who are likely to respond to queries. Raise the issue with the NFU, write polite letters to your MP, but I will not be giving the people on the end of the phone at NE any grief.
In defence of NE staff, I have found them to be actually very pleasant and helpful to deal with (unlike the mapping department of the RPA). They have gone considerably out of their way to answer my queries, and have provided responses in considerable depth and with an unexpected level of candour. I do not believe, and this is obviously my opinion, that adopting a sarcastic tone to frontline staff is going to help in any way at all. The responsibility for the delay will in all likelihood be quite complex, and will very probably not be the fault of the people who are likely to respond to queries. Raise the issue with the NFU, write polite letters to your MP, but I will not be giving the people on the end of the phone at NE any grief.
So Natural England are not responsible for their self set timescales and we should ask the NFU to waste their money on fighting who exactly? I have had numerous polite conversations with them and look just how well it has worked so far.... I'm hardly asking to shift heaven and earth, I am not worried about the mid tier grants but if we can't get the organic conversion payment it is a total non starter, nobody can answer my questions except NE, not even my local mp oddly. The frontline person who has been dealing with it has said she is very sorry but cannot help or answer my questions and suggested I took it further up the chain of command. I'm pretty sure you could look up a list of ne emails right now and mine gets so much spam I really don't see it appering here being to much of a worry!
Feldspar
Member
- Location
- Essex, Cambs and Suffolk
I know it's blooming frustrating, and Silverfox is right, there is an unfair asymmetry in that farmers get punished for being late but the government often doesn't in a way that hurts it enough (RPA fines may have had some effect). I still maintain though that a sarcastic tone isn't going to further yours or anyone else's cause.
I look forward to the postman arriving with my mid-tier offer.
I hope he does! Not in July! To be honest if my email prompts a "no we won't put you in mid tier or organic conversion" at least I can get on with my life and start planning for this season, at the moment I can't even do that
carpenter1
Member
- Location
- devon
Its not knowing with is annoying, not being able to plan
- Location
- Shropshire
We are waiting too, in organic conversion. I was under the impression, though, that the organic portion would succeed even if the other items didn't. I certainly ticked a box to say that I wanted the organic part to proceed even if the other didn't, and when I queried it with NE was told that it meant we would get the organic part of the scheme either way.
We spoke to NE yesterday to check about some hedge rejuvenation and I have to say they were very helpful as to what we could and couldn't do, pending the scheme. He is also looking into whether we could remove an option if we wanted to on a small portion. No news on progress of the application, of course.
We spoke to NE yesterday to check about some hedge rejuvenation and I have to say they were very helpful as to what we could and couldn't do, pending the scheme. He is also looking into whether we could remove an option if we wanted to on a small portion. No news on progress of the application, of course.
You are right, sort of anyway, they automatically accept organic applications for mid tier but only assuming the money is in the pot to pay you, if not they won't accept you for the scheme. So really there is absolutely no guarantee until you have a formal acceptance