Agricultural Payments Update
Countryside Stewardship Application Success
We have started to receive offers for Countryside Stewardship Agreements starting 1st January 2023, after submitting applications on behalf of clients earlier this year. A 100% success rate so far in what is a competitive scheme! Agreement offers have been received for a range of farm types and sizes across Kent and East Sussex, and including both land management options and capital works.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme will open for applications for the final time in 2023. If you would like more information, or assistance with making an application, please do contact a member of the team.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
Liz Truss briefly stirred things up and social media was awash with speculation in late September that the SFI and the rest of the ELMS schemes were going to be watered down or even abolished altogether. For those hoping that a direct payment may return, this now seems unlikely with a new Government looking to demonstrate ‘integrity’ at every turn. We still await much detail on the SFI but there is an opportunity to apply now and secure payments in the range of £10 to £25 per acre for what are considered by many clients to be relatively small changes to existing farming practices. A very brief summary of what’s available:
| Land use | Level | Obligations | Payment rates | |
| Arable | Introductory | action 1: complete soil assessment and produce a soil management plan action 2: test soil organic matter action 3: add organic matter one in every three years eg FYM, green manures, chopping straw, grass leys action 4: green cover on at least 70% of land over winter eg autumn sown crops, cover crops, weedy stubbles | £22/ha | £9/ac |
| Intermediate | Variation to action 4: green cover on at least 50% of land over winter and multi-species cover crops on an additional 20% of the land | £40/ha | £16/ac | |
| Improved Grassland | Introductory | action 1: complete a soil assessment and produce a soil management plan action 2: test soil organic matter action 3: no more than 5% of the total area left bare over winter | £28/ha | £11/ac |
| Intermediate | Additional action 4: establish and maintain herbal leys on at least 15% of land | £58/ha | £23/ac |
Improved grassland applies to temporary or permanent grass but must be ‘improved’ ie fertilised @ 100kg/ha +, re-seeded, boom sprayed herbicide, multiple silage/hay cuts.
Please get in touch with our Rural Professional team for further details and help
