Agriculture & Forestry

Listed below are details of organisations offering help and support to businesses operating in the agricultural sector

Coming to the UK for seasonal agricultural work

DEFRA has published advice for seasonal agricultural workers coming to England to work on farms and their employers. Link to the DEFRA Guidance

Article added 5th June 2020

Rural Payments Agency update - June 2020

The RPA has published an update for information about their schemes - Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and the Basic Payment Scheme. This includes details of scheme deadlines and how to submit applications, claims and supporting documents during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Link to the RPA Update

Article added 5th June 2020

New funding to support dairy farmers through Coronavirus

A new fund will enable eligible dairy farmers in England to access up to £10,000 each to help them overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The dairy response fund opened on 18th June for applications from eligible dairy farmers in England in need of support following the coronavirus outbreak.

To be eligible for support from the fund, farmers in England need to demonstrate that they have suffered a reduction in the average price paid for their milk of 25% or more in April 2020 when compared with February 2020.
Qualifying farmers are entitled to up to £10,000 each to cover 70% of their losses across April and May incurred as a result of a drop in price, following a reduced demand for milk with the closure of restaurants, bars, and cafes in recent months.

This financial support will help farmers maintain production capacity and sustain their business without impacts on animal welfare. Farmers will be able to apply for a single payment from the fund, which will be paid out from 6th July by the Rural Payments Agency.

For further information, including downloadable application forms, go to the Dairy Response Fund website. The deadline for applications is 14th August.

Article updated 19th June 2020

The Prince's Countryside Fund

Established in 2010, The Prince’s Countryside Fund exists to improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life. When the Fund was established, its Patron HRH The Prince of Wales identified a crucial role for us in responding to countryside crises.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is inviting applications for emergency funding from farming and rural community support groups, who are providing assistance to counter the effects of isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Farming Help Partnership

Supported by The Prince's Countryside Fund, this is a collaboration between The Addington Fund, The Farming Community Network, R.A.B.I, RSABI and Forage Aid working together to support the Farming Community during the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

This initiative is in conjunction with The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, The National Farmers’ Union, and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust and for further information, call 03000 111 999 or visit the Farming Help website.

National Farmers Union

The NFU has created an Advice Page for its members (also available to non-members) providing links to information about a wide range of topics and the potential impacts of Coronavirus.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has set up a useful Coronavirus Advice Page with information and guidance for farmers and growers:

Government advice on operating safely during Covid-19 crisis

Specific advice has been issued by the government to farming businesses on Operating Safely during the Covid-19 crisis.

Article added 27th April 2020

Extension to Basic Payment and Countryside Stewardship claim periods

The window to submit applications for the Basic Payment Scheme and make a claim for Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and woodland legacy revenue payments will be extended.

In light of the disruption caused by the Coronavirus outbreak, farmers and land managers will now have until 15 June to submit their applications without penalty.

Farmers and land managers are still encouraged to submit claims and applications online for BPS and CS through the Rural Payments Service as soon as they are able to, so that the RPA can process them as swiftly as possible.

In addition, the period for amending your claim without penalty has also been extended to 30 June 2020 with final submission of applications and claims now to be with the RPA by 10 July 2020.

The deadline for new CS Higher Tier and Mid Tier agreements remains the same, as 1 May and 31 July 2020 respectively. Applications are still being accepted.

Article added 28th April 2020

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission has published Coronavirus-related Advice and Guidance for businesses operating in the forestry sector: