Should the purchase of a new direct drill be grant funded?

[Steevo]

Money would be better spent on training and education

I agree.

However, often that just results in "trainers" setting up shop, running pointless courses that are of little use to the farmer.

I attended an AHDB meeting recently and felt that one of their "experts" was teaching farmers to suck eggs. Anyone can farm from a book/spreadsheet....but when you invest your own money in it, and do it for real things never work out like that. I normally find AHDB events excellent, but this was the exception.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Money would be better spent on training and education

What specifically?

 

[Colin]

Ok maybe not training but farmer to farmer knowledge exchange. But then someone's hard won knowledge could be worth a lot of money

 

[James W]

problem with farmers (human nature) is that we all think we know it all ! and it was our idea ! I find this forum quite amusing because everyone asks for advice and, when someone gives the advice, it doesnt go down very well. Its great fun if you read a few old blog topics ! better than tv.. it usually only takes 3 comments before it gets bristly !

 

[Case290]

I could do with a newer grain dryer any grants for those. I haven't looked but as it's useful i,m guess not

 

[James W]

I could do with a newer grain dryer any grants for those. I haven't looked but as it's useful i,m guess not

yes a new dryer would be great, and my Landrover is a bit knackered too !

 

[Simon C]

yes a new dryer would be great, and my Landrover is a bit knackered too !

Well, I brought two nice direct drills with my own money. My kids are all driving now so the family estate can go, do they do grants for sports cars.

 

[chickens and wheat]

Min till drills and precision kit in Northamptonshire
Three NFU members in Northamptonshire are applying to their LEADER area for funding towards min till drills and precision farming equipment under agriculture productivity priority one theme.

The outputs that need to be met include reductions in ammonia and sulphur emissions, use of new techniq2ues and products, reduced fertiliser and improved soil structure, (particularly pertinent as much of Northants is a catchment farming sensitive area) which help to make the farm business more sustainable. These farmers have been invited to put a full application bif for 40% funding.

https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/defra-announces-£200million-for-rdpe-funding/

 

[James W]

I say yes. What with the impetus in current CAP reform being the minimisation of soil erosion, should CSF offer some incentive to farmers currently operating an intensively tillaged system to adopt direct drilling? At least on a reasonable percentage of their farm.

Afterall, if the BPS reform is seeking farmers to reduce surface run-off, avoid compaction, use cover crops and stubbles over-winter, utilise legumes, increase organic matter, lessen wind erosion, and establish crops earlier then surely direct drilling should be a key part of their strategy? Not to mention lower carbon footprints and increased wildlife population which I'm sure fits into the EU borne objectives somewhere.

As such I think it wholly reasonable that RDPE/CSF etc should consider making the first time purchase of a direct drill an eligible item for grant assistance. Perhaps the availability of a grant towards a new drill should be made available to each farmer every ten years, so if you can show your drill is ten years old or more, you would be eligible for a grant towards the cost of a new one. Part exchange not included, limited to half the value of the drill, or somewhere in the region of £30,000.

There would be details to iron out I'm sure but I think it is something that DEFRA should consider. Perhaps an epetition should be in order! Might get a couple dozen signatures...

permission has been given for a new beet factory up north... i dont think Defra are worried about soil erosion. The average dirt tare in sugar beet delivered could easily be 7%. On a small crop of just 30 acres that could be 70t of top soil hauled across the country ... or 2t per acre of the best top soil, gone for ever.
... not to mention the 10-30 gallons of diesel that lorries use to haul 22t of water, 2t of soil, and 6t of sugar from farm to factory.
Conclusion, waste of time and money giving farmers money to buy low soil erosion seed drills whilst still promoting the mass removal of top soil by beet farming.

 

[Bumble Bee]

When I bought my Weaving GD this season, I was told that there was a Leader Grant available.
When I looked into it there was..... but I was just out of the catchment area.
This was a double whammy as not only can my competitors buy an identical machine cheaper than I can, but when it came to selling my Claydon, potential local buyers could buy a new machine with a grant cheaper than they could buy my used machine without a grant.

 

[James W]

whoever thought of that scheme should be shot

 

[Case290]

Thought it covered second hand too so maybe keeping your resale valve good too. I think they just trying different schemes all the time. The drill ones not the worst idea. Wood Chippers. & Sheep stuff now that's bonkers

 

[James W]

Thought it covered second hand too so maybe keeping your resale valve good too. I think they just trying different schemes all the time. The drill ones not the worst idea. Wood Chippers. & Sheep stuff now that's bonkers

but it would be better to pay British sugar to return all the top soil back to the beet farmers in the empty lorries if they want to stop soil erosion. Or make return of topsoil a condition of planning consent for the new northern beet factory.

 

[Cutlerstom]

I say yes. What with the impetus in current CAP reform being the minimisation of soil erosion, should CSF offer some incentive to farmers currently operating an intensively tillaged system to adopt direct drilling? At least on a reasonable percentage of their farm.

Afterall, if the BPS reform is seeking farmers to reduce surface run-off, avoid compaction, use cover crops and stubbles over-winter, utilise legumes, increase organic matter, lessen wind erosion, and establish crops earlier then surely direct drilling should be a key part of their strategy? Not to mention lower carbon footprints and increased wildlife population which I'm sure fits into the EU borne objectives somewhere.

As such I think it wholly reasonable that RDPE/CSF etc should consider making the first time purchase of a direct drill an eligible item for grant assistance. Perhaps the availability of a grant towards a new drill should be made available to each farmer every ten years, so if you can show your drill is ten years old or more, you would be eligible for a grant towards the cost of a new one. Part exchange not included, limited to half the value of the drill, or somewhere in the region of £30,000.

There would be details to iron out I'm sure but I think it is something that DEFRA should consider. Perhaps an epetition should be in order! Might get a couple dozen signatures...

I'm pretty sure that some people already have received LEADER grant money to purchase Direct Drills

 

[E_B]

I'm pretty sure that some people already have received LEADER grant money to purchase Direct Drills

Yes, sadly the implementation of my ingenius suggestion occurred after I had already bought a direct drill. Drat, oh well, was happy with the deal at the time and if I want to upgrade from a 3m Mzuri to an 8m Cross Slot, I'll know what to do.

 

[mikep]

The real answer is of course.
1. If you have already bought a drill then definitely not.
2. If you want to buy one but your Leader area did not target them then definitely not.
3 if to want to buy one and are in a Leader address that supports them them of course they should.