Ongoing dry weather
First and foremost, I want to start this month’s missive by thanking the members and group secretaries who have gone above and beyond in supporting Staffordshire Fire and Rescue in tackling some of the wildfires we have seen over the last month, particularly in Stourbridge and on Cannock Chase.
I first spoke to Staffordshire Fire Service 12 months ago, following the fires on the North Yorkshire Moors, hoping to set up some protocols for farmers providing assistance in Staffordshire. Hopefully, recent events will focus minds and I’ll be able to report back to you next month that progress has been made.
With no significant rain in the forecast before the end of August and following NFU lobbying, Defra has introduced temporary adjustments to some SFI, CS and HLS options due to the prolonged hot and dry weather. Relevant links and guidance are below:
- Firebreaks
- Grazing, fodder and rotational arable options
- Record keeping. If you wish to use one of the temporary adjustments listed, you must complete a Temporary Adjustments form, and keep it for your records. You do not need to return the completed form to the Rural Payments Agency. You must supply this form if RPA asks for it
- You need to contact RPA directly:
- When your county returns to ‘normal’ drought status and you are still unable to meet the requirements of your agreement because of local conditions
- If you tried to establish options but they fail because of the prolonged dry weather
- When you need to create firebreaks on land above the moorland line, in woodland or on priority habitats
Please read the full guidance and check requirements for your individual options before making any changes.
Planning for the next membership year
I recently met with your County Officeholder Team to discuss our plans for the next membership year. We are guided by the NFU Midlands Regional Board, who met in June and agreed on the following priorities, which will guide our activities:
- Water – which includes water quality and management (flood, drought, and storage)
- Resilience – to include agricultural transition (SFI/BPS etc) climate and nature, taxation, cashflow, devolution, and EU SPS agreement
- Safe and secure farms – to include H&S, rural crime, fire safety and mental health
- Infrastructure and development
- Plant and animal health and animal welfare - to include small abattoirs and livestock markets
If you think there’s anything missing from this list, or if there are specific topics that you would like us to focus on in Staffordshire, please contact me.
Back British Farming Day 2026
This year BBFD, when we celebrate the amazing people who produce our food, is on Wednesday 9 September. Staffordshire and Worcestershire are teaming up to hold an event at Birmingham New Street Station, where we hope to take a life size model of a cow to Ozzie the Bull.
The details of this event, which we will be inviting the West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to, are being finalised, and more information will be circulated when this is done. More information on BBFD can be found online.
Bovine TB badger vaccination
As I mentioned in last month’s County Voice, Defra and APHA will soon be deciding which additional vaccination areas are chosen and one of the criteria that may influence their decision is what interest there is in a county in getting involved.
You can register your interest, with no obligation to proceed, online and if you’re interested in becoming a delivery partner. The project is open to both livestock and arable farmers.
Post-harvest social
Following the success of last year’s post-harvest get together, we are planning to hold a similar event on Thursday, 10 September.
Once again, the venue will be the Green Man, Milwich, as this is central to the county, and they looked after us well last year. I’ll hopefully see you there!