The Rural Bulletin: 3rd May 2018

Neonics ban applied on all outdoor crops

EU member states have voted to extend the partial ban on neonicotinoids so it applies to all outdoor crops.

The use of active substances imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam will now only be permitted in greenhouses where bees are not exposed to the chemicals.

New restrictions are set to come into force in about eight months’ time, however, in the meantime the ban on flowering crops such as oilseed rape will remain in place.

Cash flow boost from beef calf scheme payment

Payments worth £38m are set to be made to Scottish beef producers, easing cash flow worries. 

NFU Scotland urged the Government to bring forward payments made under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme to help with cash flows after a long, wet winter and spring.

Favourable exchange rates have boosted the value of payments made under the beef calf scheme to £99.49 per animal for Mainland beef calves and £144.22 per animal for Island beef calves. 

NFU Scotland’s livestock committee chairman, Charlie Adam, said: “Given the weather endured in the past six months or more, bank accounts [have been] drained to keep on top of rising feed and bedding bills.

“Having this money ahead of schedule is very welcome. Our hill sheep sector faces the same challenges and we urge the Scottish Government to bring forward the timetable for payments made under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme.”

NFU secures wins for farmers affected by HS2

The NFU has secured a number of victories for members affected by Phase 2a of HS2, providing essential assurances and benefits for affected farmers.

These include:

• Notice of entry, where HS2 will notify landowners of the quarter of the year in which land is planned for occupation, and how long contractors are likely to be on the land;

• Where a claim for compensation is submitted under temporary possession, interim payments will be made;

• A farmer may request HS2 to permanently acquire land required for the railway line and habitat creation;

• HS2 will provide an alternative supply of water, if a private water supply is affected by construction;

• HS2 has agreed to carry out aftercare of soils for five years, with the possibility of a further five, including covering the cost.

Deadline approaching for BPS application

Farmers in England are being urged to get BPS application forms completed ahead of the May 15 deadline. So far, more than 35,000 BPS applications have been submitted, with 88% of these done online.

However, the process has proved difficult for some farmers due to the new hedges layer tool, which has caused major errors in the mapping data.

For advice on how to apply for BPS application: 

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