NEW projects to help farmers and land managers prepare for life outside the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy have been given the green light, Farming Minister Victoria Prentis announced today.
Nine organisations have been awarded a share of the government’s £1 million Future Farming Resilience Funding, which will support farmers as they prepare for the transition to a new farming system.
The seven-year Agricultural Transition period will start in 2021 and see the current subsidy system of Direct Payments – which pay for the amount of land farmed – phased out from 2021 and replaced with the new system rewarding farmers for‘public goods’.
After years of being in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the resilience fund provides grants for a variety of different projects which aim to help farmers fully understand the changes ahead and identify how to adapt their business models – including one-to-one advice on farms or group information workshops.
Farming Minister Victoria Prentis said: "This funding is just one way we will support our hard-working farmers as they prepare for the transition towards a new farming system that works for the whole of the country.
"The funding delivered today will go towards projects that provide support for farmers, including through information sessions, workshops, one to one advice on-farm and business reviews.
"This initial phase will be thoroughly evaluated to inform future decisions about expanding the Future Farming Resilience Funding in the future, so that more farmers have access to advice and guidance around future change.
"This funding will go to rural-facing organisations across a range of sectors and regions in England and is set to benefit approximately 1,700 farmers this year.
"The grants have been awarded following a competitive process from September to November 2019. The projects will be carried out by Bishop Grosseteste University, Brown & Co, Devon County Council, Ricardo-AEA, RSK-ADAS, Soil Association and SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College).
"Farmers and land managers should follow these organisations on social media and sign up to mailing lists to hear about local information events and available support."
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