- Payment statements for each delinked payment instalment have been delayed and we are waiting to hear from the RPA as to what will happen. For the NFU, these are important documents as they serve as a record of how much was paid in each delinked payment instalment for 2024.
- The first payment for 2024 was made from 1 August onwards, with the second payment made from 30 September.
- Remittance advice slips have been posted to the registered business in line with each payment instalment. This advice slip will show the scheme year and the amount being paid.
- Due to the usual December payment being paid earlier in September this year, there will be no payment made in December this year. This only applies for 2024.
As these are new payments, you can find more information about the delinked payment process on 皇家华人, as well as dedicated fraud awareness information.
The RPA also has ; please familiarise yourself with this for your own financial security.
Post-Budget developments
- Payment rates for 2025 were announced in the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024. These are expected to be 100% reductions on all values in excess of 拢30,000, while all claims up to 拢30,000 will be reduced by 76%.
- This means the maximum level of delinked payment proposed for 2025 will be limited to 拢7,200 in light of these announced figures. More information can be found on our dedicated delinked payments page.
- The IAHW (Improving Animal Health and Welfare) review continues to be developed, with a recent additional option for a farm visit focusing on endemic disease follow-up support.
- The Animal Health and Welfare Review offers visits for beef and dairy cattle, sheep and pigs. The endemic disease follow-up is limited to beef cattle, sheep and pigs, however, it is anticipated that the dairy cattle option will be added in the future.
- You will need to sign up to a new agreement to take advantage of this follow-up opportunity or a second / third Animal Health and Welfare review.
- New agreements will last until 2027 and allow for up to three animal health and welfare reviews and three endemic disease follow-up visits.
Find out more at: Animal health and welfare review and endemic disease follow-up.
- The Future Farm Resilience Fund continues to be available to those who have not yet taken advantage of the free and confidential business support available.
- The fund aims to help businesses adapt to the new regulatory environment through identifying how these changes will impact them, and what they can do and when to do it in order best benefit their business.
- Support is only available until early 2025. Apply early to avoid oversubscription as certain providers may reach capacity.
- This offer is aimed at looking at the farming business, not necessarily the access to support payments. For more information see our FFRF (Future Farming Resilience Fund) guide.
Further guidance on the fund is available at: .
- The first application window for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund closed earlier this year.
- Those with active grant funding agreements have until midday on 10 January 2025 to submit their completed claim forms with correct financial and photographic evidence to support this.
- With the deadline fast approaching there is not long left to secure and purchase any funded items, particularly those which may suffer from delays in manufacturing, shipping or are in high demand.
- If there are any issues in securing grant funded items, then it is important to contact the RPA as soon as possible.
We have put together a 6 step checklist to help ensure your claim goes through as smoothly as possible: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 鈥� 6 tips for submitting your claim.
More information can be found on our dedicated Farming Equipment and Technology page.
- New hedgerow regulations came into force on 23 May 2024, meaning they are now the main authority on hedgerow trimming and the management of buffer strips.聽
- As we progress through the autumn and winter months, establishing buffer strips on harvested fields in preparation for their next crop will be important while trimming occurs on those hedges where they are accessible.
- Hedgerows are still subject to the existing rules which can include the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.聽
- It's key to understand which hedges have to apply to the rules. These are set out in the guidance. Find out more.
Further guidance on buffer strips and their establishment can be found at: .
You can also read our NFU explainer on the buffer strip rules.
- The poultry housing grant has now closed for applications, with offers expected to be sent to invited applicants in the coming weeks.
- The grant allowed those with over 1,000 birds to improve their hen housing. The offer was available to cover one of two project types.
- Applicants could either apply simply for a veranda, or apply for a comprehensive project which will also include a veranda on the building. There is not an option to have a comprehensive project without a veranda, except where there is not enough suitable outside space and that was agreed by the RPA.
- Invited applicants will have until 30 January 2026 to submit their full application.
Guidance on the full application requirements can be found at: .
Find out more about the laying hen housing grant.
Calf housing
- Calf housing for animal health and welfare has now progressed to allowing full applications to be made until the final deadline of 30 April 2025.
- This final application should be for the same project that was proposed for the previous two stages of assessment.
- Due to the fact that this is now a full assessment, there is outlining what your application should cover.
- With the winter months approaching, it is a good time to double check that all of your business details and maps are correct and up to date.聽
- This is important for ensuring you are kept up to date with RPA developments, and to avoid any issues or delays when it comes to payments, or applying for new schemes.
- Maps should be kept up to date as SFI applications require the correct land cover and land use codes to be applied to the relevant parcels in your agreement. Even if you're not applying straight away, ensuring your details are accurate now will help avoid future delays which could impact the starting of your agreement.
Guidance on the importance of keeping your maps up to date can be found at: The importance of keeping RPA mapping up to date.
Guidance from the RPA on how to access and update your business details can be found at: .
8. Tree Health Pilot extended
- Defra has confirmed the Tree Health Pilot scheme will be extended and improved to help ensure there is no gap in this support while tree funding transitions into ELMs.
- The support available to manage dangerous trees with ash dieback may be of particular interest to members.
- NFU lobbying has helped improve the 2024 pilot scheme offer for ash dieback. This now includes a condition survey and is open to individuals as well as groups looking to cover some of the costs associated with ash dieback such as road closures.
Find out more at: Support available for trees affected by pests and diseases.
9. SFI 鈥� expression of interest removed
- From 12 November you can apply for SFI 2024 without needing to complete the expression of interest survey.
- Applications can be made directly via the Rural Payments Service.
- The offer is not yet open to those who farm on common land. If you farm on common land and want to apply for SFI, the RPA is encouraging you to get in to contact.
- Those farming on moorland commons can continue to access the action already available in SFI 鈥� CMOR1: assess the condition of the moorland (previously MOR1). They will be able to apply for the expanded offer on their non-common land through a separate agreement if they wish.
Find out more about the removal of the expression of interest process at: Direct applications open for expanded SFI24 offer.
Visit our SFI essential information page to keep up to date with all the latest developments.
10. Future grant opportunities
- In the Autumn Budget, Defra outlined its intention to "simplify and rationalise" its grant offer and to prioritise initiatives which 鈥渄eliver the most critical support for food security and environmental goals in England鈥�.
- Defra has said it will be issuing an update on its plans for future grant opportunities.
- We will continue to engage in discussions with Defra and the RPA and share any updates as they are made available on nature of future opportunities to secure grant funding in the future.