Farming

Grazed woodland concern for FUW

Published

10 years ago

December 17, 2014

Tom Sinclair

EC Agricultural Commissioner Phil Hogan

THE FARMERS’ UNION OF WALES has written to newly appointed EC Agricultural Commissioner Phil Hogan asking for rules which will exclude large tracts of land with trees on from eligibility under the new Basic Payment Scheme. The Basic Payment Scheme will replace the current Single Payment Scheme in 2015 and, under Delegated Regulation 640/2014, land with trees at densities of 100 or more per hectare will not be eligible for payments. “One hundred trees equates to an average spacing between trees of 10 metres or 33 feet,” said FUW agricultural policy director Nick Fenwick.

“At that spacing land can not only be grazed by animals, it can also be cultivated – it is wide enough to drive three or four London buses side by side between trees. Under the current interpretation this means vast numbers of areas currently claimed as grazed woodland or eligible land containing ineligible features will be excluded from claims and have to be mapped as ineligible on the Land Parcel Identification System. The exclusion of such land from eligible areas makes no sense whatsoever,” added Dr Fenwick. The letter to Mr Hogan highlights the severe and presumably unintended impact the rule will have, by rendering large areas of agriculturally viable land as ineligible for the Basic Payment Scheme.

It adds: “The impact…will be felt most acutely on those farms which are severely disadvantaged and/or have retained features such as ancient woodlands within field parcels… payments will be significantly reduced, as eligible areas – often already well below what they should be due to the use of projected rather than actual field areas – will be artificially reduced.” The letter also emphasises the huge additional burden the Regulation will place on administrations such as the Welsh Government, which already have their work cut out in dealing with the new CAP Regulations. It states: “The requirement… represents a major additional bureaucratic burden for farmers and administrations alike, which goes wholesale against the Commission’s stated commitment to a simplified Common Agricultural Policy at a time when all Member States are facing extreme financial pressures.

Given the above, and the importance of agroforestry to rural economies, biodiversity, landscapes and carbon capture, we would urge you to do all you can to reverse a decision which will have a range of adverse and unintended consequences, particularly for our most disadvantaged farms,” the letter adds. Dr Fenwick said he had also alerted other organisations across the EU to the implications of the rule and was aware that similar concerns were widespread. “We have had numerous discussions with Welsh Government officials regarding this issue and will be discussing it with Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans in the coming weeks,” he said. “In the meantime, it is essential that farmers abide by all rules relating to the felling of trees, as the consequences of breaching these could be even worse than the impact of the new Regulation.”

Crime

Farmer cleared of restraining order breach at Haverfordwest court

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been found not guilty of breaching a restraining order after being accused of referencing a protected individual in a Facebook post.

Philip Stoddart, 58, of Monkhill Farm, St Ishmaels, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 20) to face the charge. The prosecution, led by Ann Griffiths on behalf of the crown, alleged that between December 4 and December 13, 2023, Stoddart made a Facebook post that, by inference, referred to a person he was prohibited from contacting under a restraining order imposed by Swansea Crown Court on April 16, 2021.

The restraining order, issued under Section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, barred Stoddart from making any form of contact with her.

Prosecutors argued that the Facebook post constituted a breach of the order, contrary to Section 363 of the same act.

Stoddart denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea during a prior hearing on October 1, 2024.

Magistrates Professor N. Negus, Mr. J. Steadman, and Mrs. J. Morris presided over the trial, which concluded on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, the bench found Stoddart not guilty, dismissing the case.

The dismissal brings to a close legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

Farming

Get up to £5,000 for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

FARMERS in Wales are being called to apply for the next round of funding for on-farm trials.

The Farming Connect initiative, which has funded projects such as growing lucerne in Brecon, is inviting applications for the Try Out Fund.

The new application window opens on January 27, 2025, and will run until February 17.

Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund trials that experiment with new ideas on their farms.

The last round of funding supported several projects, including integrated pest management at a pick-your-own strawberry enterprise.

Menna Williams, the Farming Connect project lead, said: “Farming Connect has developed the Try Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment.”

She added: “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.”

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

Ms Williams said: “Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100 per cent effort right from the start.”

Projects should focus on enhancing production efficiencies and profitability while ensuring environmental protection through adherence to sustainable land management principles.

A guidance handbook is accessible on the Farming Connect website, providing support for farmers in outlining their projects and completing the application process.

To apply, individuals must be registered with Farming Connect and capable of finishing their projects by January 2026.

Ms Williams explained: “Funding can be used for technical assistance, sampling, testing and other reasonable expenses such as those relating to short-term hire of specialist equipment or facilities directly relating to the project.”

The findings will be shared with other producers in Wales by collaborating with a Farming Connect team member.

Interested parties can apply on the Farming Connect website.

To receive the link or get further information, contact [email protected].

Farming

Funding window to re-open for on-farm trials in Wales

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WITH Farming Connect-funded trials ranging from growing lucerne in Brecon to establishing sunflowers as a companion crop with maize, farmers are being invited to apply for the next round of funding from the initiative that brought these projects to life.

The new application window for the Try Out Fund opens on 27January2025 and will run until 17 February. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £5,000 to help fund on-farm trials that experiment with new ideas. The last round of funding saw farmers supported for several projects including integrated pest management at pick your own strawberry enterprise.

Project lead Menna Williams of Farming Connect said the aim is for farmers to compare different treatments or management systems – the project is not intended to fund new equipment she stressed.

“Farming Connect has developed the Try-Out Fund to address specific local problems or opportunities with the aim of improving efficiencies and profitability within agricultural businesses whilst protecting the environment,’’ she said. “There are many changes on the horizon for agriculture, and now is a great time for farm businesses to explore an idea that could benefit them, allowing farms to tackle ‘real’ problems or check if a research idea works in practice.’’

The fund is open to individuals or groups of up to four farmers and/or growers in Wales who have identified a local or specific problem or opportunity.

“Because these ideas are initiated by farmers themselves, they are really passionate about them, giving them 100% effort right from the start,’’ said Ms Williams.

Suitable projects must aim to improve production efficiencies and profitability whilst protecting the environment by aligning with sustainable land management outcomes. A guidance handbook is available on the Farming Connect website to help farmers scope their project and complete the application form.

Applicants must be registered with Farming Connect and be able to complete their projects by January 2026.