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FAS technical advice line: 03000 200 301
- Key dates to be aware of…
- How can we help you?
- Join CSF, Agronomist Andrew Wells and Farmer John Charles-Jones for a look at Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options and agronomy.
- Sustainable Farming Incentive - rotational actions declaration
- Update on Capital Grants
- Support Available to Farmers – Farming Community Network
- Trees on farm – National Tree Week
- Environment Agency Case Study – Reducing Soil Erosion at Bigenor Farm
- Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
- Stay up to date with us
If you keep sheep and/or goats, you must carry out your annual count of the animals on your holding as of 1 December, enter this into your holding register and complete the inventory by 31 December. You will receive a letter in November which tells you what to do. (GOV.UK)
In case you missed them...
You can burn heather, rough grass, bracken, gorse or vaccinium on land other than in upland areas from this date (GOV.UK).
For more details about the information provided in the key dates table, visit the Rules for Farmers and Land Managers and the relevant pages of GOV.UK.
Upcoming grant deadlines
10 January 2025 - The deadline for claims to be submitted for one or more grant funding agreements (GFAs) as part of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024 is midday on 10 January 2025.
Defra has confirmed that as of 12 November 2024, farmers/land managers can now apply for the expanded SFI offer without needing to complete the expression of interest survey. Defra have provided a YouTube video guide on how to apply.
For further information, including where to apply, visit GOV.UK
Key Dates for Annual Declaration Submission
To assist Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement holders, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have outlined the opening and closing dates for the annual declaration submission based on the start date of the agreement:
| Agreement start date | Declaration period opens | Declaration period closes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 December 2023 | 1 October 2024 | 30 November 2024 |
| 1 January 2024 | 1 November 2024 | 31 December 2024 |
| 1 February 2024 | 1 December 2024 | 31 January 2025 |
| 1 March 2024 | 1 January 2025 | 28 February 2025 |
| 1 April 2024 | 1 February 2025 | 31 March 2025 |
| 1 May 2024 | 1 March 2025 | 30 April 2025 |
| 1 June 2024 | 1 April 2025 | 31 May 2025 |
| 1 July 2024 | 1 May 2025 | 30 June 2025 |
| 1 August 2024 | 1 June 2025 | 31 July 2025 |
| 1 September 2024 | 1 July 2025 | 31 August 2025 |
| 1 October 2024 | 1 August 2025 | 30 September 2025 |
| 1 November 2024 | 1 September 2025 | 31 October 2025 |
Free and confidential advice
The FAS is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). We provide free, confidential advice to help farmers and land managers in England understand and meet the legal requirements in English law around certain farming activities to protect people, livestock and the environment. We update the farming sector on relevant government farming policy that is applicable in England and on the actions that can be taken to help farmers comply with the relevant regulations.
Our website hosts our previous newsletters, as well as technical resources and webinars that cover various topics in more detail.
Contacting the advice line:
Farmers requiring telephone advice can contact the FAS technical advice line on 03000 200 301, Monday to Friday, between 08:30 and 17:00. The Rural Services Helpline provides a single number for all FAS, Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Animal and Plant Health Agency, Natural England and forestry enquiries.
You can also email enquiries to advice@farmingadviceservice.org.uk. Our helpline team aims to respond to all telephone and email enquiries within one working day.
You can also now speak to our helpline team through the new online chat function on the farmingadviceservice.org.uk website.
The advice given to individual farmers is confidential – we do not disclose any personal or individual information or data obtained during advisory activities.
Catchment Sensitive Farming are hosting their free Arable Hub in the East Midlands this month, to help demystify the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and answer your questions on schemes, water, air, and soil health. Join them on Tuesday 10th December for a tour of our Arable Knowledge Farm, with talks and Q&As from independent agronomist Andrew Wells and farmer John Charles Jones.
FAS Programme Manager Laura Harpham will also be there to answer your wider questions and queries.
Please sign up to either the morning (10:30am) or afternoon (13:30) session to book your place and claim your free lunch.
Tuesday 10 Dec 2024
Woodborough Park Farm
Georges Lane
Nottingham
NG5 8PX
What3Words: stamp.intend.happen
For other free events, talks, and training near you, visit the Catchment Sensitive Farming Events page
There are some actions within the SFI 2023 offer which are ‘rotational’. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has provided some guidance on these rotational actions below.
As explained in the Handbook for the SFI 2023 offer, for the second or third years of an SFI agreement, these rotational SFI actions can:
- move location or be done on the same area each year
- increase or decrease the area (as long as it is at least 50% of the area entered for the first year of the agreement).
Tell the Rural Payments Agency about the future location and area of your rotational Sustainable Farming Incentive actions
If your SFI agreement includes rotational SFI actions, you will have informed the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) about their location and area for the first year of your agreement in your application.
You will need to complete a ‘rotational actions declaration’ to tell the RPA about the location and area of your rotational SFI actions for the second and third years of your SFI agreement. This is necessary even if you are not making any changes to the location or area of these actions.
You can move the location of a rotational SFI action to an eligible land parcel that is linked to your Single Business Identifier (SBI). This can be land that is not already in your SFI agreement.
When to complete your rotational actions declaration
You will need to complete your rotational actions declaration towards the end of the first and second years of your SFI agreement. Your rotational actions declaration will be available in the Rural Payments service once you have submitted your annual declaration. The RPA will tell you when it is available. It is important that you complete and submit your rotational actions declaration as soon as it is available. The RPA cannot pay you for the relevant agreement year until you submit it.
Rotational SFI actions in the SFI 2023 offer
You will need to complete a rotational actions declaration if your SFI agreement includes any of the following SFI actions in the SFI 2023 offer:
| Code | SFI Action |
|---|---|
| Action for Soils | |
| SAM2 | Multi-species winter cover crops |
| SAM3 | Herbal leys |
| Actions for integrated pest management | |
| IPM2 | Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strops |
| IPM3 | Companion crop on arable and horticultural land |
| IPM4 | No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops |
| Actions for nutrient management | |
| NUM2 | Legumes on improved grassland |
| NUM3 | Legume fallow |
| Actions for farmland wildlife on arable or horticultural land | |
| AHL1 | Pollen and nectar flower mix |
| AHL2 | Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land |
| Actions for farmland wildlife on improved grassland | |
| IGL2 | Winter bird food on improved grassland |
How to complete your rotational actions declaration
After you have submitted your annual declaration, you will need to sign in to the Rural Payments service and complete your rotational actions declaration as soon as possible.
- Go to the ‘Business Overview page’ and click ‘Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023’
- Select the green ‘Rotational Actions Declaration’ button.
If you want to make changes to any of your rotational actions, complete:
- Section 1, ‘Confirm you wish to make a rotational actions declaration’
- Section 2, ‘Confirm rotational actions’
- Section 3, ‘Review and submit your rotational actions declaration’.
If you do not want to change the area or location of your rotational SFI actions, complete:
- Section 1, ‘Confirm if you want to make a rotational actions declaration’, and select ‘No, I do not wish to make changes to my rotational actions’
- Section 3, ‘Review and submit your rotational actions declaration.
Check your details are up to date
So that the Rural Payments service can deal with any queries quickly, it is important that your personal and business details are up to date. Sign in to the Rural Payments service to check and update them if necessary.
Where to find more information
You can read more about your SFI agreement’s terms and conditions in the SFI Handbook for the SFI 2023 offer. It provides more information about what to do if your circumstances change or if you cannot deliver your agreement.
If you have any questions, you can email the RPA:ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk (please make sure that you add ‘SFI 23’ to the subject title of your email) or call 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm).
Please remember to add your Single Business Identifier (SBI) and agreement number to your email.
Update on Capital Grants
The Government have committed £5 billion for the farming budget over two years - the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.
While they have committed the largest budget, the government say there is still a need to manage affordability, and they have seen unprecedented demand for capital grants causing unsustainable spending this year. They are forecast to spend 49% more on capital grants this year than they paid out in 2023/24 and 125% more than in 2022/23.
As a result, this week they announced that part of the overall capital grant offer will temporarily close to most new applications. Agreements that have already been signed will be met, with further funding prioritised to help build a sustainable farming sector.
Existing applicants to the capital grant offer who have submitted their applications, but not yet been offered an agreement will receive a detailed update about their application in early 2025.
Agreements that have already been signed will be met.
All of the Environmental Land Management schemes (SFI, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, and Landscape Recovery) are continuing and are being evolved and improved in an orderly way, with over 60,000 agreements currently live across the schemes.
Further information is available on Defra Farming Blog
During the winter months, when nights are long and cold, we can sometimes feel gloomier than usual. It is important to remember that there is always a friendly voice at the end of a telephone.
Whether you are feeling stressed or just want to chat with someone who understands farming life, FCN volunteers are available 7am – 11pm 365 days a year to listen and support you.
FCN Helpline number is 03000 111 999 and their e-Helpline email is help@fcn.org.uk.
Whether you contact FCN, another support charity, or just check in with a friend, your neighbours or network, it is important to keep talking. Sometimes a chat can make all the difference. A problem shared really is a problem halved.
Dialling a number and calling a charity can be daunting, but FCN helps hundreds of farming people and their families each year and they have been called a ‘lifeline’ by those that have received their support. FCN will ‘walk with’ you through any issues, whether personal or business-related.
The earlier you contact FCN, before problems escalate, the more they can help and the better the outcomes. If you feel nervous or embarrassed, please don’t be, FCN volunteers are used to hearing about all sorts of problems. Your call will be treated in confidence and you can speak to someone outside your local area if you would prefer. You can read more about what to expect when you call FCN here.
FCN also offers support through their FarmWell website, which provides information on topics from succession planning to mental health and wellbeing. Their Green Zone checklist helps identify strengths on your farm and areas that need support. You can read more about it here.
FCN has launched a campaign with Macmillan Cancer Support called #NipItInTheBud, which raises awareness of cancer risks and encourages early detection in farming communities. They are inviting those affected by cancer to share their stories.
For National Tree Week this year (23 November – 1 December 2024), Defra are supporting the Tree Council to mark the start of the annual tree planting season. They also want to highlight the range of opportunities and benefits that trees can bring to farms through agroforestry.
Agroforestry is the practice of integrating trees into productive areas of a farm which can potentially provide benefits, such as improved soil quality, livestock shade and shelter, as well as additional income from tree produce (fruit, nuts, and wood fuel). Trees can protect livestock from harsh weather to help maintain body temperature, reduce heat stress and improve productivity. Agroforestry also has the potential to limit nutrient run-off by up to 80%, saving on fertiliser costs and enhancing farm resilience. You can read more about how agroforestry can benefit your farm on a-guide-to-agroforestry.gov.uk. For more information about planting and grants and the potential benefits of integrating trees on your farm, visit GOV.UK.
New guide to help farmers benefit from agroforestry
Released during National Tree Week, Forest Research have also published The Tree Species Guide for UK Agroforestry Systems, which provides an accessible overview of the key attributes of 33 tree and shrub species suitable for use in UK. It has been designed to inform farmers on what trees are best suited to their individual needs and site conditions.
The guide provides information on key attributes, such as physical characteristics, environmental tolerances, and ecosystem services that they deliver. It includes factors such as tree height, canopy cover, growth rate and resilience to pests, diseases, and climate and site tolerances.
Bigenor Farm, which is a beef farm in West Sussex, has faced soil erosion issues due to cattle outwintering. During a routine inspection, a local EA officer noticed poaching and potential soil runoff on a nearby field. The officer contacted the farmer to discuss the risks and arranged a visit to provide guidance.
The inspection confirmed that prolonged grazing of heavy cattle in wet conditions had damaged the soil structure, increasing the risk of erosion. The issues included there being no suitable areas for cattle to bed up, and no evidence of grass buffer strips around the edge of the field to reduce soil runoff. These issues were contributing to a breach of farming regulations related to the management of livestock and soils.
To address these problems, the EA officer advised the farmer to:
- Consider strategic feeder placement
- Avoid grazing in excessively wet weather
- Practice rotational grazing
- Fence off poached areas and re-seed to remedy soil compaction
- Insert straw pads in low-lying areas for cattle
- Consider alternative shelter or grazing areas
- Develop a wet weather strategy
- Refer to Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) outwintering advice.
By working with the EA, the farm has implemented effective changes to manage the environmental impacts of outwintering cattle. These have included:
- laying a straw pad for bedding,
- managing stock density,
- using temporary fencing to establish grass buffer strips.
With support from Catchment Sensitive Farming, the farmer enrolled the grazing area into a Countryside Stewardship scheme to improve the permanent grassland. This partnership has led to a resolution that benefits both the farmer and the environment.
For more information on outwintering of cattle, see the AHDB website here.
Getting winter ready – the year-round benefits
In the second part of their winter ready farm case study, the Environment Agency (EA) discuss the regulatory side of being winter ready, how this can future proof your business and the agronomic benefits of being able to store your slurry through winter and spread it onto the land when crops and grass will benefit the most from it.
If you have watched this video and are concerned about your own storage capacity for the winter ahead, the EA encourages you to speak to one of your local agriculture officers. They will work with you to help resolve your issues and will direct you to sources of independent and free advice from Catchment Sensitive Farming and the Farming Advice Service.
Environment Agency - Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. Tel. 03708 506 506
Defra regularly updates the Farming blog. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure you receive all the latest news.
The Farming Roadmap, Farming Recovery Fund payments and Supply Chain Fairness
On Thursday 21 November, Secretary of State Steve Reed attended the Country, Land and Business Association’s (CLA) Conference where, as well as addressing the reforms to Agricultural Property Relief, he confirmed the government’s intention to produce a long-term Farming Roadmap. This will outline how the farming system will boost food security, deliver on environmental objectives, and drive innovation, unlocking delivery across government missions and priorities.
It will enable farmers to tell the government what they need and set the direction to make that happen. They will work with the sector to understand where agriculture needs to be in 25 years’ time and build a long-term plan to achieve that in a way that unlocks the potential of the countryside and farming.
The government are establishing a new way of working with the sector, listening and absorbing information that those in agriculture want the government to hear and encouraging open dialogue allowing for deeper reflection on the issues at hand.
Furthermore, the government have provided £60 million pounds to help farmers affected by the unprecedented flooding earlier this year, with the bulk of these payments already in eligible farmer’s bank accounts.
The government is also advancing work on supply chain fairness, using the “fair dealings” powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 to introduce tailored and proportionate, sector-based regulations, protecting producers and boosting food security in the longer term.
Regulations for the UK pig sector are in the latter stages of development and are expected to be introduced in Parliament in spring 2025. Industry engagement on proposals for eggs and fresh produce regulations is beginning now with regulations to follow over the course of the next two years.
Further information is available on Supply Chain Fairness on the Defra Farming blog.
Hedgerows’ Consultation
In May 2024, the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 came into force. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has been appointed to act as Regulator.
On the 29 October 2024, the RPA launched a public consultation to seek views on how to approach the implementation of these regulations. The consultation will last for six weeks and will close on 10 December 2024 at 11.45pm.
The regulations were introduced to protect hedgerows on agricultural land as they provide essential habitats and act as wildlife corridors. Hedgerows also help slow soil erosion and support crop pollinators, which benefit the environment and support farming.
The RPA wants to safeguard these crucial habitats and protect biodiversity through the no-cutting period and mandatory buffer strips.
The RPA are proposing a fair and proportionate regulatory approach when deciding how to implement civil sanctions. Advice and guidance will be offered to farmers and landowners to help them comply. Civil and criminal sanctions will be applied to more serious breaches.
Following the consultation, a final version of the statutory guidance document and a summary of the consultation responses will be published.
You can find more information on GOV.UK about the Hedgerow management rules in regards to cutting and trimming and buffer strips.
Get involved – Defra needs your input to improve digital services!
Defra is looking for farmers, growers and land managers to join a Defra Farming and Countryside user research panel to help improve guidance and services.
There are two projects that you can get involved with now.
They will both involve a one-hour conversation with a user researcher.
- FTF Research: Farming Transformation Fund (FTF) are looking for feedback on obligation checkers
The purpose of this research is to understand the experience of agents using the online eligibility checker as part of their application for an FTF grant (e.g. slurry, water management, calf housing, laying hens housing, adding value, or improving farm productivity).
- Funding applications: Understanding how to reduce the complexity of searching and applying for funding options that align with the reality of running a farm.
To help with this, Defra would like to speak to farmers and growers to understand how they:
- decide what to do on their land,
- schedule what they do, and
- calculate costs and consider different funding options.
The panel is open to farmers or land managers. If you have contacts that might want the opportunity to work with Defra on building better services for farmers, feel free to share this link: https://defragroup.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b25JxhOFykUF9Lo?Q_CHL=guidancepage
If you have any questions or comments, please contact: FCPUserResearchTeam@defra.gov.uk
First case of Avian influenza confirmed in poultry in England this Autumn – registration reminder
On 5 November 2024, the H5N5 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in a commercial poultry farm near Hornsea, East Riding, Yorkshire. To prevent further spread of the disease, control zones were put in place surrounding the infected premises – additional controls apply to bird keepers in these zones. Bird keepers can check if you are in a bird flu zone on the interactive map and read Defra’s guidance about the rules that apply in the zones.
Risk levels have now increased and all bird keepers are urged to take action to protect their birds and report signs of the disease. Practicing good biosecurity at all times helps to protect businesses from the impact of HPAI and other animal diseases. Avian influenza is primarily considered a disease of birds and the risk to public health from the virus is very low.
It is now a legal requirement for everyone who keeps birds in England and Wales to be registered with the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA). Bird keepers in Scotland are legally required to be registered by 1 December 2024 on the Scottish Kept Bird Register.
These changes mainly affect backyard flocks but also require action by farmers and keepers of other livestock who may keep a smaller number of birds for non-commercial reasons.
The changes will improve the effectiveness of the UK’s national disease control measures and better protect the poultry sector from outbreaks of avian disease. If you do not keep birds but would still like to receive updates, you can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service for the latest information
Farming Resilience Fund: free business advice for your farm
There’s still time to get free business advice for your farm.
The Farming Resilience Fund offers free, tailored business support to help farmers and land managers during the early years of agricultural transition. If you have received direct payments since October 2022, you are eligible and can join the 25,000 farmers and land managers who have received 1-2-1 advice through trusted farming organisations.
While support under the fund is available until March 2025, we advise you to register by December 2024 to ensure your chosen provider has time to deliver high quality business planning support.
For more information on the support available and which organisation can provide free business support in your area, visit: Farming Resilience Fund: free business advice for your farm.
Integrated Pest Management guidance available
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests, weeds and diseases on your land.
To help farmers, growers and land managers adopt different IPM approaches, Defra have published a new guidance page on GOV.UK, providing practical information to help you increase your knowledge and use of IPM approaches.
The page includes the following:
- IPM aims, principles and short examples of what it means in practice
- tools which can support planning and decision making
- how to be paid to do IPM through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
- links to further IPM guidance
Video series now available
In collaboration with ADAS, a new IPM series of 14 videos has been launched. This will bring to life the science behind IPM theory and showcase best practice for managing diseases in cereals. The videos will be promoted weekly along with related IPM content from January, and are hosted on the ADAS YouTube channel.
The videos will focus on:
- crop production and plant disease epidemics
- disease control methods
- managing fungicide resistance
- environmental considerations
There is more information available on the Defra Farming Blog.
A Commissioner for the tenant farming sector
On 6 November 2024, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner shared that there will be a commissioner for the tenant farming sector in England.
This role, the first of its kind, in England, will address one of the recommendations from the Rock Review to improve relationships and collaboration between tenant farmers, landowners and advisers.
The commissioner for the tenant farming sector will hold an influential role as both an advocate and a mediator for tenant farmers, landlords and advisers.
The commissioner’s presence seeks to reinforce transparency and trust, encouraging fairness and collaboration across the tenanted sector. The commissioner will be appointed by Defra and will work closely with the Farm Tenancy Forum to provide regular reports on the concerns and issues raised to help track industry trends and offer advice to improve practices across the sector.
You can read more about the commissioner’s responsibilities and how the commissioner will work on the Defra Farming Blog.
Rural Payments Agency Blog
To stay up to date with the latest information and updates from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), sign up to the RPA Blog. You can also listen to the RPA Podcast, which has been launched to help farmers, landowners and rural communities keep up to date with the latest news from the RPA. You can also follow the RPA on social media:
- X @ruralpay
- Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency
- YouTube: Rural Payments Agency
- Instagram: ruralpay
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