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Farming and Countryside Programme

New rules for fair milk contracts: supporting dairy producers 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme, Guest post

The Fair Dealings Obligations (Milk) Regulations (FDOM24) set out how milk purchase contracts must operate. FDOM24 is designed to make these contracts fairer and more transparent across the dairy industry. In this guest post, Richard Thompson, the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) shares an overview of his role and what to look for in your contact.

Agri-environment schemes work: Natural England’s latest findings

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: environmental land management schemes, Farming and Countryside Programme
Chalk downland with common spotted orchid and rough hawkbit in foregrouns

This month, Natural England published its annual report summarising projects of the Agri-Environment Scheme Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. In this guest post, Natural England’s Usha Waygood, Senior Officer in the Evidence Directorate, highlights some of the team’s findings from the report.

Dartmoor Land Use Management Group: appointment of a chair

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme
Sun and showers over Vixen Tor, Dartmoor, Devon, UK.

In April, we published our response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. We agreed with the recommendation to create a land use management group. I'm pleased to say that the position of chair has just been advertised. In this post, I'll share a short summary and provide links to learn more.

The Smaller Abattoir Fund: increase in intervention rate and grant amount

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In December, we shared details of a new capital grant to support smaller abattoirs in England, offered through the Smaller Abattoir Fund . To recognise the cash flow challenges that many smaller abattoirs face, we’re increasing this support. We’ve raised the intervention rate from 40% to 50% and we’ve increased the maximum grant amount from £60,000 to £75,000. 

Apply now for a water screening study 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme
Waterbody fenced off under sunny skies

From today, small groups of farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. An LRO is a water resources scheme that improves the resilience or supply of water in a local area. LRO screening studies are one way farmers and growers can better understand their options to improve the supply or resilience of water. In this post, I’ll share the background, explain how the studies work and include links to learn more and apply. 

Laying the hedgerow regulations

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Blackthorn hedgerow in the Spring Sunshine

We are pleased to tell you that legislation to protect hedgerows has today been laid in both Houses of Parliament. If approved by Parliament, the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 will put baseline hedgerow management practices into law, providing a consistent approach across all people operating on agricultural land.