Midland Farmer


EDITORIAL


Editor: Johann Tasker | T: 07967 634971 E: johann@ruralcity.co.uk


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Sustainable Farming Incentive must be properly funded


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Midland Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) or companies supplying goods and services to the sector. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares.


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© Countrywide Publications 2021


Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd T: 01502 725800


overnment plans to overhaul the farm support system took another step forward last month when Defra published details of


its Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). The SFI will form the entry level of the forthcoming Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme – which will eventually be phased in as the annual basic payment is phased out starting later this year. Some 2000 farmers said they were interested


in taking part in a pilot version of the SFI. It will see them rewarded for undertaking sustainable farming practices – including measures aimed at looking after the environment. Defra say it wants the scheme to be as simple


and straightforward as possible. It is working in partnership with the Rural Payments Agency to deliver the pilot, which will gather ongoing information from a range of participating farm types. Participants will take part in a range of


activities, providing rapid feedback on their experience of all aspects of the pilot. Defra says this will ensure the scheme is tested, fully workable and user-friendly once fully rolled out from 2024.


Contents In the fi rst phase of the pilot, participants


will be able to select from an initial set of eight standards to build their own agreements. The standards will promote cleaner air and water, and guard against environmental risks such as climate change and fl ooding. Within each standard there are three levels


for participants to choose from – Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced. Each level is more challenging, and more rewarding, than the previous level and delivers greater environmental benefi ts. Although the window for farmers to


express an interest in joining the fi rst phase of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot is now closed, Defra says there will be more opportunities to participate in future phases of the pilot. It is vital that the pilot scheme works.


And that means farmers must be adequately rewarded for the environmental work they are expected to undertake. Otherwise the scheme will fail before it starts. We will be watching progress with interest.


Johann Tasker, Editor


Vol 10 • No 7 • July 2021


News .................................................................... 4 Arable .................................................................. 8 Oilseed rape .....................................................18 Livestock ..........................................................24 Pig & Poultry ................................................... 27


Sheep ................................................................. 35 Professional services .................................. 38 Machinery ....................................................... 44 Final say ........................................................... 46


OPINIONJohann Tasker


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