For those affected by the terrible fires over the Summer, I asked our Senior Support Scheme Adviser, Richard Wordsworth for some guidance.
If you had crops in SFI or Countryside Stewardship, here is a checklist of what to do:
If you have not been able to deliver something that you committed to there is a risk that the RPA could withhold payment or issue a penalty.
- What are the details of your SFI or CS agreement?
- Read the scheme rules - force majeure may not be covered by guidance
- What crops were in the fields and what actions had you agreed to do?
- What happened? Fire? Damage? Drought?
Once you have all this information ring NFU CallFirst 0370 845 8458. They will be able to walk you through what you need to do.
You will need to notify the RPA that something you were delivering is no longer there.
It is better to tell RPA there is a problem than wait for an inspection. Be proactive. There is a risk to payment but if you have evidence to show you have attempted to deliver an action, the rules should allow you to keep the payment because what happened was out of the your control.
Do this before the annual declaration – otherwise it could hold up the payment.
Use this form if you have a query about your Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application, agreement, or payment.
Please note: the RPA are getting sharper and more intrusive. Satellites are going over daily so they may be able to see where you have not delivered an action you have committed to.
We’re all in this together
Thanks to everyone who came to the Camp Inn at Grimley for our We’re All in this Together social evening.
We were still in the drought at the time and many were struggling with lack of grass and poor yields. It was good to get off the farm and socialise alongside the banks of the River Severn.
Margaret Herbert was on hand to explain what support is available from FCN and Worcester County Council gave us a micro grant for mental health and wellbeing which paid for the buffet supper. Please remember – there is support available for times like these:
Bluetongue
Bluetongue (BTV-3) appears to be getting closer and has caused untold damage in the South West.
The current advice is to vaccinate if possible. Stocks of vaccines are low, but it is worth registering your interest with your vet so that you can be on the waiting list when supplied arrive.
Remember, bluetongue is a notifiable disease and must be reported immediately.
County Chair's Dinner
We are delighted that Baroness Minette Batters has agreed to speak at this year’s dinner on 6 November at Worcester County Cricket Club. where she will also be doing a book signing of her recently published autobiography Harvest.
Tickets are selling fast so please get in touch with [email protected] if you have not yet booked your place.
Clive Roads will again be running the auction and there are some smashing lots on offer this year: a Stihl leaf blower; a four-day weekday stay in a superb converted barn with an open-plan living space; a bottle of House of Commons champagne signed by Kemi Badenoch and a Christmas wreath-making workshop for 10 people to name just a few.
This year’s charity will be the Farming Community Network.
By the time you read this, Back British Farming Day will have happened. We’re planning to take the cow to the bull at Birmingham New Street Station.
County comms
Please join the NFU Worcestershire Facebook page or WhatsApp group where I post updates on what’s happening in policy and in the county. Just email me if you would like the joining link. [email protected]
I look forward to seeing you across the county soon.