Latest news

Revenue claims window opens

19^th March 2025

Revenue Claims window now open - RPA incorrect dates

The 2025 Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship revenue claims window is now open. It closes 15th May and late reductions are applied after this deadline.

Please be aware that there is some confusion over late reduction dates if claim forms are requested directly from the RPA and not completed online. Please use the information on GOV.UK not on the claim form itself. The same applies to the claim summary generated online, which is also showing incorrect dates relating to the late reductions. We understand that the RPA are looking into this further.

If you need any help or further clarification on this please do not hesitate to contact us here in the office info@williamsround.co.uk or 01939 260302.

SFI Cancelled!

11^th March 2025

This evening, the Government has announced that it has officially stopped accepting new applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 with immediate effect.

With more than 37,000 multi-year, live SFI agreements, 50% of all farmland is now under some form of environmentally sustainable management scheme and the maximum limit has now been reached.

We understand that this news will come as a shock and cause significant concern to many of our clients. However, it is important to note that;

1- All existing SFI agreements are secure and will continue to be honoured/paid in full.

2- Current eligible applications will also be considered.

We are advised that a new, improved (but likely capped) SFI Scheme will be available in the future with more detail to follow after the Spring Spending Review.

Please contact Jo Williams directly on 01939 260302 or jo@williamsround.co.uk for further information and advice.

Capital Grant scheme re-opens

25^th February 2025

Hot off the press...

If you have a Capital Grant application that has been on hold - good news - the service has re-opened.

All 4,040 applications that were on hold will now be processed. You do not need to do anything.

If you didn't complete your application before the temporary closure, you should be able to submit it later on this year.

There will be some changes including a rolling application window and spending caps. The spending caps do not apply to applications already submitted.

For more information visit https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/25/an-update-on-capital-grants-2/

Happy New Year!

7^th January 2025

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support and business over the past year. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025!

Hedgerow Management Regulations (England) 2024

26^th November 2024

The RPA are running a public consultation on the new Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 which came into force earlier this year. It includes the approach to managing buffer strips, cutting ban periods and exemptions.

The consultation to obtain views on how to implement these regulations ends on 10th December.

Have your say here: Consultation on the regulatory approach and use of civil sanctions for hedgerow management - Introduction - Defra - Citizen Space

Back British Farming

19^th November 2024

Wearing our wellies to show our support for British farmers as they descend on Westminster for the mass lobby today

The IHT changes announced in the budget will have a wide-spread impact on British food production - not just farm and land owners. It will affect the whole industry - from tenant farmers to agronomists, from feed merchants to farm vets. Not only this, food prices will likely rise.

#backbritishfarming #StoptheFamilyFarmTax