The Rural Bulletin: 26 April 2018

Request for 2018 exemption from three-crop rule

Farm minister George Eustice has requested that the UK be exempt from the three-crop rule for 2018 following the bout of severe weather.

In a letter to the European Commission, Mr Eustice said he wanted to support arable farmers affected by the extreme weather in recent weeks. The rule is an EU requirement for farmers with more than 30ha to grow at least three different crops every year but has been particularly difficult to adhere to given the heavy rain and snow through much of the main sowing period. Through no fault of their own, farmers in many areas have been unable to sow the crops they intended to grow.

Mr Eustice said: “We have listened to the concerns raised by farmers and their representatives about the challenges caused by the recent weather conditions.

“Farmers will be making their final cropping decisions in the coming weeks, and we hope the Commission will inform us of their decision shortly so we can provide them with clarity.”

NFU urges farmers to respond to Defra consultation

NFU president Minette Batters has urged farmers to respond to the “life-changing” Defra plans to abolish direct payments. 

The Government’s consultation on its Command Paper - Health and Harmony: The future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit – is set to close on 8 May. And Ms Batters has appealed to farmers to give their thoughts on the proposals to replace direct payments with a system based on reward for environmental measures.

Speaking at an NFU council meeting this week, Ms Batters said: “It has been a really, really tough winter. Most people have got their heads down – they have got Brexit fatigue and they just feel it is beyond them. But there aren’t anywhere near as many farmers actively engaged with this as I would like.”

To find out more about the consultation or to respond

Six BPS drop-in centres open across England

The Rural Payments Agency has opened six drop-in centres across England, which farmers and landowners can access to submit their 2018 BPS claim.

The centres – in Exeter, Workington, Newcastle-upon Tyne, Reading, York and Carlisle – opened on Monday (23 May) and will be open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm until 15 May – the BPS deadline day. 

New scheme launched for young sheep farmers

British Wool has introduced a scheme to provide cash flow support for new entrants to the sheep sector. 

It allows eligible farmers to receive 100% of their clip value as an upfront payment for their first two years, along with a priority wool grading service through British Wool’s nationwide depot network.

Following this initial period, farmers will transition onto the standard payment scheme over the next three years by way of adjusted balancing payments.

To be eligible for the scheme, farmers must not have been previously registered with British Wool and must have kept sheep for less than five years. 

For more information and to apply

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