Rural Update January 2023

Good news to start a New Year!

The Government is continuing to promote actions that help to meet their environmental targets by paying more to farmers and landowners whose activities protect and enhance the environment rather than those who hold the most land.

Increased payments will be made available for environmental schemes through the continued roll out of ELMS and improved payment rates for existing SFI standards and Countryside Stewardship agreements.

So, what has been confirmed?

Receiving an additional £1,00 per year through SFI as a management payment on the first 50ha of the farm (£20 per ha) to cover administration costs.

For more information regarding SFI schemes, click here.

Countryside Stewardship revenue payments for ongoing activities will increase on average of 10% and capital payments rates have also been increased. This affects both existing and new agreement holders.

Some of the changes to Revenue payments from the 5 January 2023:

• In-field grass strips – Increased payment from £624 to £658 per hectare
• Sowing Strips of land with a seed mix – Increased payment from £640 to £732 per hectare
• Low input grassland in upland areas – Increased payment from £71 to £98 per hectare

Some of the changes for capital payments from the 5 January 2023:

• Hedgerow creation – Increasing from £11.60 to £22.97 per metre – a rise of 98%
• Concrete Yard Renewal – Increasing from £27.14 to £33.64 per sqm
• Roofing – Increasing from £62 to £72.50 per sqm

For further changes to capital payment rates, please follow the link
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-payment-rates-from-january-2023-countryside-stewardship/capital-items-payment-rate-changes-from-5-january-2023

Still to be announced this year?

• Further and more advanced SFI Standards
• More information regarding launching of LNRs and LRs (ELMS)
• Updating of England Woodland Creation Offer and Tree Health Pilot incentivising trees as a valuable resource