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Farm support

If you are a farmer / landowner looking for grants and land management advice the Nidderdale National Landscape team can:

  • Provide FREE advice and support for farmers and landowners and help to access grant schemes
  • Do practical conservation work on private land with the help of our volunteer workforce
  • Offer advice, grants and improvements to farmland conservation through a range of projects and programmes.
  • We can also provide more information about the options available in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

     

Sign up to our Farm Support Newsletter and stay informed. Visit our Farm support resources page to watch past workshops

 

Page updated 21 March 2022  

Farming is changing.

The way farmers and land managers get financial support is changing.

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is being phased out and replaced with a new approach to payments.

This change has an impact across all land management practices, including farming, moorland management and woodland creation and management.

 

Three sheep standing in heather moorland under a blue sky

Latest news

  • Applications to the Farming in Protected Landscapes can now be submitted at anytime before programme closes for application in 2025. This grant programme is for supporting farmers, land managers and people who manage land in protected landscapes, like Nidderdale National Landscape. Find out more on our dedicated Farming in Protected Landscapes page.

 

A new payment approach

2021 was the start of the seven year transition away from EU-based rules and schemes towards a new approach which pays farmers and land managers to:

  • Improve the environment
  • Improve animal health and welfare
  • Reduce carbon emissions
  • Provide beauty and heritage for all

 
This will be through providing grants for:

  • Environment Land Management (ELM) to produce public goods through nature-friendly farming practices
  • improving farm productivity and prosperity

 

Resources and support

Please be aware our Land Management Team are extremely busy due to this upcoming transition. It may not be possible to help everyone on a one-to-one basis.

To help you decide what options are available for you, you can visit our Farm support resources page  to watch recordings of our past workshops, view presentations and read our latest newsletters.

For free support, whether personal or business related, you can reach out to the Farming Community Network. They’re a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community.  You can reach one of their volunteers, for free, through their confidential, national helpline and e-helpline every day of the year from 7am to 11pm.

 
You can also directly contact Lisa Cardy, the Support Officer for the North, on:

 

New Grant Schemes

Read our Farm Support in Nidderdale AONB newsletter and Defra’s Farming is Changing booklet for the current information available on new schemes.

Further details on most schemes continues to be released. Stay informed by:

 

Basic Payment Scheme ending

2021 was the first year for the phasing out of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Young Farmer Payments.

In 2021 everyone had a 5% reduction on their first £30,000. The payments are ending completely at the end of 2027.
 

Countryside Stewardship (CS)

The best way to keep payments coming in and ensure you’re ready for ELM is to apply for Countryside Stewardship (CS).

CS will be available until 2024 with last application window in 2023.

Anyone in CS after January 2021 can withdraw from CS and transfer to the ELM scheme with no penalty at agreed exit points.

Important changes for CS agreements that started from 2021:

  • Removed additional penalties for over declaration of land and scheme breaches; instead claims adjusted to found area
  • Warning system developed to enable agreement holders to put things right and still get paid
  • Force majeure applications increased to 8 weeks
  • Inspections focus on an on-site review to look at the agreement environmental outcomes being achieved and doesn’t disproportionally penalise farmers

 

Capital Grants Scheme – Applications open 8 February 2022

  • Applications will remain open until the funding is allocated
  • Three grant groups of water, air and boundary
  • Each applicant can claim up to £20,000 per group, up to a total maximum claim per applicant of £60,000
  • Find out more about the scheme, including how to apply, on GOV.UK – Capital Grants: Countryside Stewardship

If you’re considering a Countryside Stewardship Scheme application, please contact us early to start discussion of options and eligibility. 

 

Sign up to our Farm Support Newsletter

Sign up below to receive our regular e-newsletter from our Land Management Team.

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    Photo Credits: 

    Haymaking by David Tolcher
    Moorland sheep by Jackie Smith

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