SFI Questions

[JD Farm]

Hi

Not sure where to put this sorry

Have some questions on SFI that might be obvious to some people

1) if I went for BFS1 (12-24 metre water course buffer strip) can I put something like ALH2 (winter bird seed), CIPM2 (flowers) or SAM3 (herbal ley) in the buffer strip and claim for both?

2) We have some land that borders a canal. Could this be classed as HEF8 (maintain designed or engineered water bodies).

Thank you

 

[Still Farming]

May interest some??

 

[Clive]

May interest some??

this really will keep a LOT of DEFRA employees busy !

 

[WillYorkshire]

this really will keep a LOT of DEFRA employees busy !

The topsy turvy delivery of SFI is so offputting. Probably change again within a few months, plaster over a few more cracks!

 

[Clive]

i maybe over simplifying things ( sure i am !) but what on earth would be the problem in allowing new options to be added for the remainder of an existing agreement ?

 

[Andy26]

i maybe over simplifying things ( sure i am !) but what on earth would be the problem in allowing new options to be added for the remainder of an existing agreement ?

I imagine administering them, an agreement with old rules new rules.

Tbh I don't see its a big problem starting new agreement, you get three years rather than two or one, so some certainty as much as that's worth with the rules being changed weekly.

 

[Adeptandy]

So we’ll no longer be able to add DD payment without a new agreement then

 

[Clive]

I imagine administering them, an agreement with old rules new rules.

Tbh I don't see its a big problem starting new agreement, you get three years rather than two or one, so some certainty as much as that's worth with the rules being changed weekly.

its no big deal - the only issue is we will have agreemnets ending in different years. In our case the options we want to add such as DD, PF and farm ponds etc wont matter re when they run to as they are permanent parts of the way we farm now anyway


I can see them complex paying havoc for anyone wanting to add anything rotational however ??

 

[Clive]

So we’ll no longer be able to add DD payment without a new agreement then

seems not - looks like i'm going to have to make a separate '24 agreement for DD and PF over all parcels plus a few farm ponds

Might as well get on with it now as start date for those options doesn't matter

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Can we apply yet?

 

[Andy26]

Can we apply yet?

No, at least I cannot, expression of interest in a fortnight ago, ready and willing but cannot start a new application.

 

[B'o'B]

Hi

Not sure where to put this sorry

Have some questions on SFI that might be obvious to some people

1) if I went for BFS1 (12-24 metre water course buffer strip) can I put something like ALH2 (winter bird seed), CIPM2 (flowers) or SAM3 (herbal ley) in the buffer strip and claim for both?

2) We have some land that borders a canal. Could this be classed as HEF8 (maintain designed or engineered water bodies).

Thank you

On your first question, ALH2, CIMP2 and SAM3 are not included in the list of options that can be done on the same area. See screenshot below for the stackable options.

Question 2 is an interesting one, but unless the canal is "contained" within the land parcel I would guess at no, also are you responsible for the maintenance of the canal? HEF8 seems to be worded to suggest that is part of the requirement. But don't take my word for it!

 

[Clive]

Can we apply yet?

seems not - i just logged on to do a '24 application and still expressions of interest only ....... which we did over a month ago

 

[BigBarl]

seems not - i just logged on to do a '24 application and still expressions of interest only ....... which we did over a month ago

We’re in exactly the same boat.

 

[4course]

its no big deal - the only issue is we will have agreemnets ending in different years. In our case the options we want to add such as DD, PF and farm ponds etc wont matter re when they run to as they are permanent parts of the way we farm now anyway


I can see them complex paying havoc for anyone wanting to add anything rotational however ??

It is a big deal Im thinking cos say like me youve got a sfi started 1/11/23 which all ends 1/11/26 on the dot and you put any upgrades into a new sfi 24 lets say aiming to start 1/11/24 to help managing both agreements together .Come nov 26 you wont have the agreement level options in place unless you start another agreement at the end of your 23 agreement so you will have to start another agreement thus you will be tied in for another 3.5 years and not just the one from nov 24 starting nov 26 thus ending nov 29 plus the new rule of action end date i.e could easily be another 6 months . Im thinking as we are almost through the first year at my age its going to cause more problems than its worth to bother with a sfi 24 just to add the options that we intended though over the whole farm would amount to £ 10-20 acre and it would put us up beyond the old payment . I reckon looking back how much our farm has changed cropping etc in the last six years it could be very restrictive to tie ourselves either me or younger partners up for what could be nearly 7 years . Plus what would happen should they come up with a few more/different options ? have to have a sf1 25 /6 /7 running as well .

 

[Clive]

It is a big deal Im thinking cos say like me youve got a sfi started 1/11/23 which all ends 1/11/26 on the dot and you put any upgrades into a new sfi 24 lets say aiming to start 1/11/24 to help managing both agreements together .Come nov 26 you wont have the agreement level options in place unless you start another agreement at the end of your 23 agreement so you will have to start another agreement thus you will be tied in for another 3.5 years and not just the one from nov 24 starting nov 26 thus ending nov 29 plus the new rule of action end date i.e could easily be another 6 months . Im thinking as we are almost through the first year at my age its going to cause more proplems than its worth to bother with a sfi 24 just to add the options that we intended though over the whole farm would amount to £ 10-20 acre and it would put us up beyond the old payment . I reckon looking back how much our farm has changed cropping etc in the last six years it could be very restrictive to tie ourselves either me or younger partners up for what could be nearly 7 years . Plus what would happen should they come up with a few more/different options ? have to have a sf1 25 /6 /7 running as well .

you can bet there will be new options in sfi ‘25 !

as you say a farm could end up with dozens of agreements

 

[4course]

you can bet there will be new options in sfi ‘25 !

as you say a farm could end up with dozens of agreements

yes and what about sort term fbt s its taken me a bit of negotiating to ensure ours go beyond our existing sfi 23 so on some land its not a possibility yet, at least not set in stone cos a sfi 24 starting before xmas effectively puts us to the middle of 28 to ensure options are completed

 

[Billboy1]

I’ll stick with my 23 agreement and increase actions if I want other wise for me it’s just going to get to complicated

 

[4course]

I’ll stick with my 23 agreement and increase actions if I want other wise for me it’s just going to get to complicated

Dont think you will be able to alter your sfi 23 even though thats what we signed upto if the post above no2 in purple is correct. I reckon a good lawyer/representative of the farming industry would find defra in breach of contract wonder who could help or are they of No F---- Use

 

[Billboy1]