NE new farmers

[True North]

Hi

So we are fairly new to farming and due to a few reasons we wont be pursuing entitlements/claiming BPS. However, we have been advised to look at Wildlife offers and Hedgerow/tree type funding. We have had a look and my business partner is unimpressed with the tie in time and the amount paid versus what we could gain in terms of grazing and winter feed/grass for our farm.

First question is - are there any schemes you can claim for areas that are already wooded?

Does anyone recommend anything we could apply for as newcomers that isn't massively involved or comprimising large areas of land? We want to dip our toe this year and see how it goes.

The second is - how the heck do I begin to measure actual land for hedgerows or bits of path I want to plant up? Do I need one of those things we used at school? The thing with the wheel that you walk round with? The maps are helpful for acreage obviously but I am bit stumped at how else to do it without proper kit.

Do any of you not apply for anything and just farm?

 

[Formatted]

So we are fairly new to farming and due to a few reasons we wont be pursuing entitlements/claiming BPS. However, we have been advised to look at Wildlife offers and Hedgerow/tree type funding.

Must be pretty small scale for it not to be worth claiming BPS? And if its not worth the hassling of applying for BPS, what makes you think its going to be worth doing anything for the less lucrative ELS?

 

[True North]

Must be pretty small scale for it not to be worth claiming BPS?

Not at all, we have considered it but decided against it for other reasons.

 

[Formatted]

we have considered it but decided against it for other reasons.

and they were? £86 an acre not to be sniffed at.

 

[True North]

and they were? £86 an acre not to be sniffed at.

No it's not. We currently do not have the entitlements.
Umlikely to be worth it for the time being before they are phased out.

 

[ISCO]

I think.if your land is registered with RPA the hedgerows may be shown on your online maps with measurements. Not sure as we only grow small area of corn so have not needed to record them on BPS claim.

 

[True North]

I think.if your land is registered with RPA the hedgerows may be shown on your online maps with measurements. Not sure as we only grow small area of corn so have not needed to record them on BPS claim.

Sorry, we don't have Hedgerows we are looking at measuring the land (parts of it) for them. We have the ha measurements with RPA for the fields themselves.

 

[GmB]

MAGIC website allows you to measure fields.

 

[True North]

Sorry, we don't have Hedgerows we are looking at measuring the land (parts of it) for them. We have the ha measurements with RPA for the fields themselves.

MAGIC website allows you to measure fields.

I have all my acreage measured.

I just need straight line measurements as I am assuming thats what they'll want to know, not the field size as I may only need certain bits hedging up. Maybe i've asked a silly question and go buy myself a yard stick

 

[GeorgeK]

Google Maps, view the satellite imagery, right click and select 'measure distance'

 

[Muddyroads]

There’s no substitute for a metre wheel in my experience. Quite a good excuse for a walk round.

 

[True North]

There’s no substitute for a metre wheel in my experience. Quite a good excuse for a walk round.

That's what I need, thank you. Couldn't think of the word!

 

[Muddyroads]

That's what I need, thank you. Couldn't think of the word!

Just measured up my laid hedges with mine to claim the grant, wish I’d used one to get the grant in the first place!
Re your decision not to claim BPS, nobody knows for sure what’s going to happen with ELMS, but would it concern you if they only offer it to previous BPS claimants?

 

[Dry Rot]

Do any of you not apply for anything and just farm?

I don't apply for anything, just farm. But then I only have 11ha and an allergy to red tape and bureaucrats.

 

[True North]

I don't apply for anything, just farm. But then I only have 11ha and an allergy to red tape and bureaucrats.

I'm getting that way myself to be honest, but wanted to ask!

 

[True North]

Just measured up my laid hedges with mine to claim the grant, wish I’d used one to get the grant in the first place!
Re your decision not to claim BPS, nobody knows for sure what’s going to happen with ELMS, but would it concern you if they only offer it to previous BPS claimants?

Yeah I just don't know what to do, it's a lot of money to part with if they are phased out sooner so it's a gamble for us. There are some pluses to it for us as a business but the initial outlay at the moment with no guarantee...

Spoke to RPA and they said weigh it up financially over 5 years say which we did. They mentioned ELMS and said to try Natural England in the meantime, which is what we've done, I just don't seem to be getting very far.

 

[Muddyroads]

Yeah I just don't know what to do, it's a lot of money to part with if they are phased out sooner so it's a gamble for us. There are some pluses to it for us as a business but the initial outlay at the moment with no guarantee...

Spoke to RPA and they said weigh it up financially over 5 years say which we did. They mentioned ELMS and said to try Natural England in the meantime, which is what we've done, I just don't seem to be getting very far.

No firm answer from NE? Now there’s a surprise! Have you priced up entitlements?

 

[Formatted]

They mentioned ELMS and said to try Natural England in the meantime, which is what we've done, I just don't seem to be getting very far.

ELMs isn't being introduced till 2025. The entitlements have a value, they can be rented if you don't want to buy them. I just can't for the life of me work why if you have land you wouldn't do the paperwork for it. You're still going to have to get the land registered to you if you want to do a CSS application or ELMs in the future.

Sounds like you've been poorly advised.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

To make a claim for hedging etc, there is an online measurement tool on the interactive map on the government website, however, I am not sure how one would access it without making a claim for the basic payment. If you have to be registered to claim the soil, water or pollinator grants, why not buy a few entitlements and claim that as well?

 

[Dry Rot]

I'm getting that way myself to be honest, but wanted to ask!

There's no such thing as a free lunch!