Working together for sustainable farming
If you have been keeping an eye on the Defra blog posts you’ll have noted that new actions are available through the Sustainable Farming Incentive from later this summer, to add to the current set of 23 actions. You may already be in an SFI agreement, in which case you’ll[…]
While it’s been a challenging season, our 11 woodland creation projects with the Mersey Forest in Cheshire are now completed with 33ha of new woodland established this year through a mixture of natural colonisation and planting. All projects are different, and the grant assistance is tailored to the farm’s objectives. […]
Slurry testing programme Knowing the fertiliser value of the farm’s slurry and FYM can help you target your nutrient applications from available manures and save on fertiliser costs. Slurry nutrient levels van vary hugely, leading to inaccurate recording of rates, and impacts on yield and quality. We also recommend slurry[…]
Planning and Biodiversity Net Gain The majority of planning applications now require 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. While this may seem onerous most typical applications by farmers and landowners for new sheds, slurry lagoons etc will be able to meet the requirements on farm through modest areas of habitat enhancement or[…]
Case Study 103 ha mixed arable and beef farm 74 ha arable land – maize, winter wheat, spring barley and oats. 25 ha of permanent grassland Already in Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship with bird cover, pollen mix, over-wintered stubbles, grassland margins and hedgerow management. Annual income £6,900. Annual scheme income approx.[…]
Rachel and Jane attended the agroforestry show recently and have come away inspired! Agroforestry covers many things and is a set of practices combining agricultural crops or livestock with trees and shrubs. There are many forms from alley cropping in arable fields to tree blocks for livestock shade and shelter. […]
Countryside Stewardship capital grants remain open for applications, and with the removal of the funding limit, enable farmers to undertake larger projects with environmental benefits. In 2023, payment rates for most options were also increased. Stand-alone applications can be made for items from 4 broad ‘themes’ which include: management and[…]
Cheshire Ploughing Match Wednesday 27th at ASHLEY HALL, HALE, ASHLEY, ALTRINCHAM, WA14 3QA We will be there on stand D8 so please pop in and see us! Find out more at cheshireploughing.org.uk
ELM Associates have negotiated 38ha of new woodland projects which have all been completed this winter, liaising with 15 different landowner’s projects range in size from 0.4ha to 8.9ha. Working you the schemes vary depending on the farm’s objectives, some are focused on screening, others taking poor performing land out[…]
The Capital Grant 2023 offer provides standalone capital item agreements that deliver environment outcomes within four groups: boundaries, trees and orchards; water quality; air quality; and natural flood management. There is no longer a limit to the value of capital items in these groups. There are 70 options available. A[…]
