The Relationship between SFI and CSS ?

[redsloe]

It says the field isn't eligible not the whole farm. Typically its how individuals read the rules isn't it?

 

[warksfarmer]

i think she should know !

see screenshot from Defra’s website - pretty clear on eligibility!

The whole thing is a farce and needs scraping in my opinion. It’s miles away from where it needs to be.

 

[Clive]

The whole thing is a farce and needs scraping in my opinion. It’s miles away from where it needs to be.

i guess that’s the ides of a pilot ! reserve judgment until it’s actually launched maybe

 

[warksfarmer]

i guess that’s the ides of a pilot ! reserve judgment until it’s actually launched maybe

i guess that’s the ides of a pilot ! reserve judgment until it’s actually launched maybe

There’s no way the prices will be doubled or ideally tripled so it just doesn’t work. We’re getting an increase in CS payments from now for the remainder of the agreement but they should be putting that into ELMS/SFI along with more as well. It’s just miles away and disjointed from where it needs to be. And the tree planting proposals from what I’ve seen are just plain stupid.

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

Ah, right.
It's going to get confusing with so many different schemes running.
Thought I'd read about SFI and CSS being allowed on the same parcel so long as it didn't fund the same benefit twice.

Yes, you can in the main scheme we're rolling out this year, we just weren't able to allow it in the pilot

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

As I understand it, when Elms is rolled out, the options will gradually be transferred over from CS. CS will be phased out by the end of bps, If in doubt ask Janet.

Yes, that's right - we'll stop taking new applications for CS in 2023 to start in 2024, and then provide a way for everyone in CS to transfer across to the new schemes after that

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

To a point, yes.
We are lead to believe that the total amount spent on BPS and CSS is ‘ring-fenced’ to be redistributed in a different way.
SFI is only a third of ELMS. If you could take advantage of all three parts of ELMs, it may be possible to end up with a similar annual amount. But at the moment, the hectarage limits on LNR/LR are far too restrictive for most of us to be able to be a part of.

As it stands at the moment, there is an awful lot wrong with ELMs. However, thanks to your wonderful invention @Clive , TFF has enabled @Janet Hughes Defra to explain the situation, answer our question and see our concerns, which hopefully will end up with a workable, viable scheme. I commend you both for this.

As with CSS, there are many ELM’s options which complicate and put off far too many of us.
The only way I can see this working is for DEFRA to come up with a spreadsheet type system that identifies exactly what options are available for each individual business and suggests which ones are best to take maximum advantage of.

Otherwise IMO it will all fail, much of that ‘ring-fenced’ money will be unused and reabsorbed into the Treasury.
Which will be not good for us and especially not good for the Government or the public.

The primary reasoning behind ELMs are the Governments goals to do with the Environment, CO2 and Climate Change.
Unless DEFRA can come up with a workable system that farmers (not landowners, as it is the farmers that can do most and are the only ones that can put the scheme ideas into practice) can use, the system will fail and DEFRA/Government will have lost a golden opportunity to achieve its aims.

Yes I agree, we must provide a workable system - that's what we're working on and as you say the feedback on here is very helpful, along with all of our codesign and engagement activities, in helping us understand what that needs to look like

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

Hi Janet, are there going to be restrictions on what and when we can transfer from C's to SFI?

And will we be allowed to end a cs agreement early to transfer what's left into SFI (or elms).

There will be some restrictions at first, yes, because a lot of CS agreements are still on EU terms (as part of the gradual transition as agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement) which include some constraints. Once we have all CS agreements on domestic terms, we can offer more flexibility and we're planning to allow people to transfer across from CS to ELM schemes once they're ready - we'll publish more info about our plans for this, later this year

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

She might well be saying that but I can confirm what I’ve said is true. I can’t explain why but it’s happened.

You can be in CS and SFI pilot on your farm (and many are), just not on the same parcel of land.

For the main scheme, you will be able to be in both CS and SFI on the same parcel of land so long as the actions are compatible and we're not paying you for the same thing twice.

 

[Badshot]

@Janet Hughes Defra

We received an email directing us to gov.uk for capital grant items. It's a terrible way to guide us. I can't find the relevant section. I have emailed about this, but thought if I highlighted it here there may be others struggling. I doubt there's anything for the standards I am doing anyway, but it would be nice to actually be able to check.

It's a brilliant way to reduce the amount of grants given, no one will apply as they can't see what's available.

 

[Badshot]

Oh, and an automatic reply just told me it'll be some time before it gets dealt with due to covid.

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

@Janet Hughes Defra

We received an email directing us to gov.uk for capital grant items. It's a terrible way to guide us. I can't find the relevant section. I have emailed about this, but thought if I highlighted it here there may be others struggling. I doubt there's anything for the standards I am doing anyway, but it would be nice to actually be able to check.

It's a brilliant way to reduce the amount of grants given, no one will apply as they can't see what's available.

I'm sorry to hear this - is this in the SFI pilot, or CS?

 

[Badshot]

sfi pilot

I'm sorry to hear this - is this in the SFI pilot, or CS?

 

[Janet Hughes Defra]

sfi pilot

Ok - keen to understand what's gone wrong here - if you're comfortable, please can you dm me your email address so I can introduce you to the team and we can work out what's gone wrong and fix it for you and others?

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

@Janet Hughes Defra

We received an email directing us to gov.uk for capital grant items. It's a terrible way to guide us. I can't find the relevant section. I have emailed about this, but thought if I highlighted it here there may be others struggling. I doubt there's anything for the standards I am doing anyway, but it would be nice to actually be able to check.

It's a brilliant way to reduce the amount of grants given, no one will apply as they can't see what's available.

just type 'sfi capital items' in the search box and it the first one that comes up

 

[Badshot]

just type 'sfi capital items' in the search box and it the first one that comes up

I hadn't thought of that.
I went through the countryside area, CSS area, couldn't find the bit I needed.

I'll try it in a bit.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

I hadn't thought of that.
I went through the countryside area, CSS area, couldn't find the bit I needed.

I'll try it in a bit.

Why they dont just give you a link to the correct page is beyond me.
I think there was 4/5 separate links all going to gov.uk
Not v useful

 

[Badshot]

Why they dont just give you a link to the correct page is beyond me.
I think there was 4/5 separate links all going to gov.uk
Not v useful

That's the issue I had. I confess to not trying the search, I had got fed up by the time I'd gone through a lot of irrelevant pages.

I have now seen the appropriate pages and as I thought, there's nothing there to interest me currently.

@Janet Hughes Defra

Sorted now this time thank you.

Perhaps we could be given direct links in future. And can we PLEASE have the information sent to all emails registered with RPA under our SBI.

 

[steveR]

Why they dont just give you a link to the correct page is beyond me.
I think there was 4/5 separate links all going to gov.uk
Not v useful

Not the first time I have found...

Come across these blind alleys and everlasting circles of links with DEFRA before.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

That's the issue I had. I confess to not trying the search, I had got fed up by the time I'd gone through a lot of irrelevant pages.

I have now seen the appropriate pages and as I thought, there's nothing there to interest me currently.

@Janet Hughes Defra

Sorted now this time thank you.

Perhaps we could be given direct links in future. And can we PLEASE have the information sent to all emails registered with RPA under our SBI.

I'd like to reiterate this point please @Janet Hughes Defra

Its a nightmare having to keep forwarding emails on all the time as they only go to one email, often a lot of people running a farm!