Expressions of interest in SFI pilot top 2,000

2,000 FARMERS HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST

Updated information has been published for those who submitted an expression of interest (EOI) in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Pilot.

Published on 7 June, it confirms the eight standards available and that monthly payments will be made from the start of the agreement to test the new payment structure. Participants will also be paid £5,000 a year for contributing to the pilot and to co-design work. The latest information is at www.gov.uk/guidance/sustainable-farming-incentive-pilot

DEFRA has announced that more than 2,000 farmers have expressed an interest in joining the pilot. Alongside the Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes, the SFI will form the upcoming Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS) offering.

The Tenant Farmers’ Association is inviting members who submitted an EOI to take part in a TFA focus group on the scheme, with further details available from Farm Policy Adviser Lynette Steel on 0118 9306130. © Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021

The Lords have thrown their weight behind the UK’s farmers by joining demands for agricultural standards to be protected in trade negotiations with Australia.

The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has called on the Government to provide clarity on the negotiations on trade in agricultural goods.

The committee has asked the Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, a number of questions, most of which relate to the UK’s reported offer on market access and the extent to which Australian production methods, including animal welfare standards, threaten to undercut British farmers and undermine the UK’s high animal welfare standards.

Lord Goldsmith, Chair of the International Agreements Committee, who pointed out that the Australia deal would “set a precedent for other trade negotiations” – including those with the likes of the US, Canada and Brazil – said it was looking for assurances from the Government on “how it will uphold its commitment to protect British farmers from unfair competition and not compromise on the UK’s high animal welfare, food safety and environmental standards”.

He said they were also asking for information so that they could “assess to what extent any damage to farmers could be offset by the additional export opportunities the Government claims will be available when the UK accedes to the trans-pacific trade bloc”.

DEMAND FOR STANDARDS TO BE PROTECTED

Dear Sir, We were very pleased to win the crate of Biddenden Cider last month, particularly as our business is celebrating 100 years of trading in 2021. As yet I have not tried it, but it is on the cards for the end of the season, which has been an exceptional one for us.

W Godfrey & Sons Ltd is a wholesale nursery based near Woking. It specialises in the production of hardy perennials, destined mainly for the landscape and independent retail sectors, and was started in 1921.

Because the site is quite large and the layout of the nursery is generous, we were fortunately able to trade throughout lockdown, with the blessing of Health and Safety Executive inspectors.

The year proved to be very busy, with many businesses requiring stock either for their own sales or for work projects. This demand may have been in part due to Brexit-related issues on imports at the ports but may also have been caused by lockdown heightening domestic demand. Restrictions have meant that our centenary celebrations have been muted, but we have been giving our customers sticks of commemorative Brighton rock to enable them at least to imagine a small glimpse of summer. We are keeping the prize cider back for our own use!

Edwina Bridle W Godfrey & Sons Ltd

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COMMENTS: SEF.ED@KELSEY.CO.UK @SOUTHEASTFARMER SOUTH EAST FARMER

Dear Sir Congratulations to your colleague Nigel Akehurst on his outstanding feature on the fi bre farmer near Petersfi eld in your June edition.

I have visited the farm several times and the well-illustrated article summed it up perfectly. The most exciting bit about the farm’s activities for us is that it demonstrates how a relatively small family farm or smallholding can integrate a successful social farming enterprise, to use Nigel’s words “…part of the solution to the growing mental health crisis”.

Many more family farmers can improve the lives of up to four people with just 12 day visits a year. Visitors enjoy supervised, regular farm jobs according to age, choice and ability.

We think the expanding trend of social farming enterprises is not just an opportunity for individual farmers off ering job satisfaction and income but a PR present for UK agriculture as new support policies move towards public money for public goods and services.

Stephen Sellers, Independent South East Regional Network Co-ordinator, Social Care Farming

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