After months of waiting following Defra’s announcement last year about exit payments to farmers in England, last week (19 May), they launched a 12-week consultation. Although the devil is always in the detail, which the consultation doesn't contain, it does outline plans for two exit payment schemes that it hopes will allow farmers in England to retire with dignity and free up land for new entrants to farm.
The two schemes it proposes are:
A lump sum exit scheme to offer a lump sum payment to help farmers to retire in a planned and managed way.
Delinked payments which involve separating direct payments from the amount of land farmed, from 2024. This will simplify the process for farmers, allow them to focus on running their business and encourage them to take up the government’s new environmental land management schemes, which will reward sustainable food production and environmental improvements.
If retiring is something you are thinking about in the not too distant future, then this is your chance to get involved and have your say. The government is trying to co-design this system with the industry. This is your chance to make your views known and help direct how the exit payment plans will work. Please feel free to get in touch with us directly if you have any feedback on the consultation by email office@rabdf.co.uk.
You can read more at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/latest-news/2021/5/19/farmers-views-sought-on-exit-payments-consultation
In other news, we are delighted to be progressing full steam ahead with plans for Dairy-Tech 2022. We have seen a record number of stand sales as well as an unprecedented amount of new product launches. We have an early bird discount offer running until 27 June, but with so few stand spaces left it’s important for any exhibitors wishing to book to get in touch now. You can do so by emailing charlesneale@rabdf.co.uk
After 18 months of no face-to-face events and prolonged social distancing, I think it’s important (as long as rules allow and it is safe to do so) to get back to face-to-face events. Our events have always proved popular and they provide one of the best platforms to share ideas and learning among our peers. As mentioned in last month’s Milk Digest plans are full steam ahead for the Gold Cup event at Robert Sloan’s farm in August and we hope to be bringing you more live events as the year progresses. Keep posted on our events page at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/training-events
We hope you are all keeping well an enjoying some sort of normality as restrictions ease.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
All the best,
Matt
How to get in touch
Email: Office@rabdf.co.uk
Call: 02476 639 317