Steady yourselves…we have now heard from Defra on the final details of the all-new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. Our resident SFI experts at NFU HQ ran a very useful webinar on 9 June. If you missed it, you can watch it back in your own time—which I’d recommend, ideally with a cup of tea and minimal interruptions. There are also a couple more webinars coming up: Capital Grants on 24 June, and the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund on 22 July. Check for details on our events page.
We’re planning to run a few local meetings here in Lancashire when SFI Application Window 2 opens in September. Unlike Window 1, which was aimed at smaller farms and those without existing ELM agreements, Window 2 will be open to ALL farm businesses with at least three hectares of land. In the meantime, there’s plenty of information on the NFUonline SFI webpages to help you get prepared before the paperwork begins in earnest!
Now to announce a small but quietly revolutionary update in our ongoing quest to improve communication and representation for our local horticulture members. If you and your phone are a fan of the modern marvel that is WhatsApp (and let’s be honest, at this point who isn’t at least in ten groups they never asked to join?), you’ll be pleased to hear that we now have a dedicated channel for horticulture members. Yes, another one for the collection—but this one might actually be useful. The aim is simple: to provide a straightforward way for horticulture and potato members in the North to share views, questions and the occasional strong opinion with your regional representatives on the NFU National Horticulture & Potatoes Board. In return, those representatives will be able to pass on updates from the national board—so information can flow in both directions, as nature (and good communication) intended. If you’d like to join, just call or message me on 07775 428211.
Speaking of things flowing in both directions, let’s talk about water. Those of you who’ve been along to recent horticulture or potato events may have had your eyebrows raised (or blood pressure gently elevated) by news that the Environment Agency (EA) is reviewing water abstraction licences. Thanks to over-abstraction in many catchments, farmers are now being asked to hand back “excess headroom”. Letters are being sent to licence holders, encouraging reductions in volumes or, in some cases, the surrender of long-unused licences. New powers will soon allow the EA to vary or revoke irrigation licences—including permanent ones—without compensation. With agriculture ranked behind “public supply” and “environmental need” during droughts, farmers will need to make a strong case for a fair share of water. One option is to get organised. Water abstraction groups (WAGs) bring together farmers and other users—like food processors—to work across catchments, have a collective voice with the EA, and figure out how to use water more efficiently. We’re holding a meeting on Friday 26 June in Aughton, West Lancashire to talk about setting up WAGs. If you fancy joining the conversation—while there’s still some water left to talk about—drop me an email on [email protected]
For our crops members, make sure Thursday 25 June is in your diary. Just before harvest properly gets going, we’re hosting our joint NFU & AHDB summer event in Aughton, West Lancashire, kindly hosted by the Webster family. You’ll be able to view winter wheat Recommended List trial plots, pick up BASIS and NRoSO points, and hear the latest cereals policy updates from NFU. And in a bold move away from the usual sandwiches and hog roasts, we’re raising the bar again with authentic, artisan, wood-fired pizza. Former NFU Cheshire County Chairman turned pizza maker extraordinaire, Jonny Hewitt, will be firing up his portable oven for us—which, frankly, may be the strongest incentive of the entire event. If nothing else, come for the pizza—and stay for the policy! So, do get yourself booked in.