LATEST NEWS
A little bit of hope and clarity
FETF 2026 – Grant Funding Agreements being offered
SFI 2026 Budget announced
STOP PRESS – ANNOUNCEMENT – RPA and DEFRA 2026 schemes
St Johns Chapel Mule Gimmer Lambs
Hexham & Northern Rural offer a comprehensive range of professional rural services and expertise throughout the North of England.
We have a practical approach that delivers bespoke advice to each client. based upon years of experience working within the agriculture sector.
Agriculture is a way of life and we are here to help you in this most testing of times.
Specialists in:
Basic Payment Scheme
Cross Compliance & Farm Records
Countryside Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Agricultural Transition - ELMs
Grant advice and applications
Mapping
Livestock Identification issues
General farm management advice
Basic Payment Scheme
BPS 2021 Payment window opened 1 December 2021
Rates 2021
Agricultural Transition (BPS Deductions) – source Defra
CROSS COMPLIANCE 2022
You must meet the rules throughout the year if you claim for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), a stewardship scheme or the Farm Woodland Premium element of the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) in 2022.
There are no changes to the rules but DEFRA have made some changes to the way we run cross compliance that may benefit you Such as:
- improvements in the way we communicate with farmers following some cross compliance visits by RPA field officers
- when assessing how severe a non-compliance is, where appropriate, we’ll take into account how you’ve engaged with the rules, any possible harm to the environment, or level of risk to public or animal health.
Details on what to expect at inspection can be viewed here.
Basic Payment Scheme
Hexham and Northern Rural (HNR) provide farmers and land owners with advice on all matters relating to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) including cross compliance, land and mapping and other Rural Payments Agency issues as well as being happy to complete BPS applications and help with record keeping requirements. Please contact us to discuss to discuss your requirements.
Countryside Stewardship & Rural Grants
Following the announcement of the new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and the subsequent changes to schemes available, it is important for farmers and landowners to know exactly what funding is available to their business to maximise incomes. Please contact us to discuss the Countryside Stewardship, Countryside Productivity Grants, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Rural Growth Programme and LEADER.
We also provide advice on existing Environmental Schemes, such as negotiating changes to agreements, prescription management and submitting annual and capital works claims. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Compulsory Purchase & Compensation
If your farm (owner-occupied or tenanted) is likely to be effected by a road widening, pipeline, electric poles or pylons Hexham and Northern Rural (HNR) will be able to look after your interests to ensure you suffer the least inconvenience and are suitably compensated as well as ensuring your land is left in the best possible condition following the completion of works. HNR can also help you negotiate the best positioning and rent for a Telecommunications site, should you be approached by a network provider. In all of these circumstances HNR fees are met by the Utility or Telecom Company. This is therefore a professional service with no cost to the farmer or landowner.
STEWARDSHIP 2021
Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship claims and payments are currently being checked and made. Check against your agreements that the amounts received are for the annual value you are expecting.
Many Stewardship Capital Works plans end on the 31 December 2021. Ensure all works that needs to be done / can be done are finished, invoices paid (where necessary), and that supporting documents and evidence (e.g., bank statement and photographs) are available so that claims can be made. Double check dates so that no deadlines are missed.
Future Farming Resilience Fund
Sign up now with providers.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
grants from £2000 - £50000 for equipment. Closes 7th January 2021.
Farming Transformation Fund
Grants for Water Management, projects over £87,500. Expressions of interest in by 12th January 2021.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
Offers funding to farmers and land managers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is not an Agri-Environmental scheme. First round applications close 31st January 2022.
English Woodland Creation Grant
Landowners, land managers and public bodies can apply to the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) for support to create new woodland. Applications can be made at any time of year.
Countryside Facilitation Fund
Funding for a person or organisation (Facilitator) to help a groups of farmer and other land managers work together to improve the natural environment at a landscape scale. Applications close 19th January 2022
Farm Dispersal Sales
In addition to the sale of rural properties Hexham and Northern Rural (HNR) are able to provide the complete package by conducting the on farm dispersal sale of both live and deadstock.
Please contact us to confidentially discuss our competitive commission rates should you be considering a farm sale.
FUTURE SCHEMES 2022 – 2024
Between now and 2024 as BPS rates decline further, other schemes will be introduced by DEFRA to aid agricultural businesses through the transition period. So far we know of the following:
- Future Farming Resilience Fund
- Farming and Technology Fund
- Farming Transformation Fund
- Farming in Protected Landscapes
- Countryside Stewardship
- Woodland creation
- Future Farming Resilience Fund
- Farming and Technology Fund
- Farming Transformation Fund
- Farming in Protected Landscapes
- Countryside Stewardship
- Woodland creation
Contact Details
Please contact Carol Johnson BA(Hons) MBIAC
Office: 01434 607028 Mobile: 0775 369 3111 Email: cjohnson@hexhammart.co.uk
Mart Offices, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG
- Environmental Stewardship Schemes
- Grant advice and applications
- Environmental Land Management Scheme
- Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
- Cross Compliance
- General Farm Management Advice
Please get in touch if any of this is of interest.