Agricultural Policy News

Agricultural Policy

Interactive Map Developed to Support Farmers During Ideal Time for Worms

Agricultural Policy

The damp and mild weather conditions over the previous few months have functioned to provide suitable breeding conditions for many parasites.

In order to support farmers with this risk during lambing, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) body launched an interactive map on 2nd March to predict peak parasite hatching. The ‘Nematodirus Forecast’ predicts the hatching date of the roundworm, Nematodirus battus, by using climatic data from 140 weather stations across the UK - 14 of which are in Wales - and maps the areas on a risk scale.

N. battus hatch en masse and this hatching is influenced by environmental conditions. This causes large numbers of larvae to emerge at the same time and this poses a significant disease transmission risk. Parasites mainly infect younger lambs and the Nematodirus Forecast, when used in combination with grazing history, can help predict the most effective time to treat for worms. On-farm factors such as grazing history and previous anthelmintic use must be considered before treating.

To view the interactive map and seek further information and advice for treating worms, please click here to visit the SCOPS website.

Are The Right Skills And Training Available For Your Agricultural Business?

Agricultural Policy

The Regional Learning and Skills Partnership - Food and Land Management Cluster are running a questionnaire for businesses to put forward their comments on whether the required skills and training are available for employees within the sector.

The research will be used to inform the Regional Employment and Skills Plan which will be used by Welsh Government to allocate funding to further education and work-based learning providers.

The questionnaire is available here in Welsh and English.

Entries Now Open For This Year’s Farmers’ Weekly Awards

Agricultural Policy

The 2020 Farmers’ Weekly awards are now open and taking entries to celebrate innovation, hard work and passion for British agriculture.

There are a total of 15 categories for farmers and companies - which include a new Environmental Champion of the Year award and the return of the Agricultural Student of the Year award.

Entries and nominations are open until 30th April 2020. The 2020 awards will take place on 1st October at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.

For more information and to enter or nominate, please click here.

Expression of Interest Window Dates

Agricultural Policy

Scheme	Summary	Window Close
HCC Hill Ram Scheme	The second expression of interest window is now open for HCC’s Hill Ram Scheme. The scheme offers the chance for Welsh hill farmers to improve performance recording with the use of DNA parentage technology to help improve flock performance. There are currently 29 flocks across Wales participating in the scheme and HCC is now looking to recruit a further 20 to join the scheme. Those interested should contact the HCC on 01970 625050. The EOI form can be found here.	31 March 2020
Farming Connect Agri Academy	The application window for the 2020 Agri Academy is now open. The Academy provides training, mentoring and support in 3 sessions throughout the programme. There are 2 separate elements, the Business and Innovation Programme, and the Junior Programme. Follow here and select the programme you are interested in to find out more information, key dates and how to apply.	31 March 2020
Glastir Small Grants Claim Deadline	The deadline to claim for Glastir Small Grants work is 31 March 2020. By this date, all applicants must have completed the practical work, taken geo-tag photos and filled in the claims form. Boundaries such as hedges and fences must be measures to ensure the claimant does not over-claim.	31 March 2020
Dŵr Cymru Pesticide Scheme	Dŵr Cymru will be relaunching their free and confidential Pesticide Disposal Scheme for farmers, growers, gamekeepers, foresters and land managers to safely dispose of any wanted or out of date pesticides and herbicides. See here for further information on how to register. Participants that took part in 2019 can take part again in 2020 and dispose of 30L/Kg of eligible products for free.	Register between 1 - 31 March 2020
Farm Business Grant	The 7th expression of interest window is now open. In order to be eligible, scheme members will have had to attend a previous Farming Connect event - ‘Farming for the Future’. To clarify, those who have received funding through the Sustainable Production Grant can also apply for funding through this EOI window of the Farm Business Grant. Contact Farming Connect to book your place.	10 April 2020
BPS Transfer of Entitlements	You can now transfer BPS entitlements through sale, lease or inheritance. It must be accessed through the RPW online account. The recipient of entitlements transferred by sale or lease must meet the Active Farmer requirements (see SAF Rules for details).	30 April 2020
Glastir Small Grants: Landscape and Pollinators	Due to the recent flooding and wet weather, the deadline to claim for Glastir (Landscape and Pollinators) work has been extended until 31 May 2020. Cross Compliance regulations do not permit hedgerow restoration works (coppicing, laying) to be completed after 31 March therefore must be completed beforehand however claims can be made up until 31 May via RPW Online. All work must include ‘before’ and ‘after’ geotagged photographs.	31 May 2020
Glastir Woodland Restoration (GWR)	The 8th Expression of Interest window is now open for the Glastir Woodland Restoration scheme. GWR provides capital works for restocking, fencing and associated operations on sites containing larch and up to 50% non-larch species. Applicants will have to submit their supporting felling licence or felling licence application when expressing an interest. Welsh Government will not consider any documents that were submitted in a previous GWR window. See here for further information and to express an interest.	24 April 2020
Glastir Woodland Creation (GWC)	The 9th Expression of Interest window is now open for the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme. The scheme provides financial support for capital works including planting, fencing and in certain circumstances, annual maintenance and premium payments. You must contact a registered planner to discuss your proposals and they must then complete and submit an EOI on your behalf. The land put forward to be planted must be registered with the Rural Payment Wales Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) and be under your full management control. See here for further information and to express an interest.	12 June 2020

Consultations Pending

Agricultural Policy

i) Welsh Government Beyond Recycling - Circular Economy Strategy

Welsh Government is aiming to move towards a circular economy in Wales whereby waste is avoided, as much as possible is recycled and products stay in use for longer. From 1997 to 2017, Wales has transformed from a nation which recycled less than 5% of its municipal waste, to become an international leader that recycles 63%. Likewise, greenhouse gas emissions from waste reduced by 60% between 2001 and 2017.

The consultation looks to produce a strategy that will make Wales:

A world leader in recycling
Phase out single use plastic
Invest in clean technology for materials collection by introducing zero emission vehicles
Make more efficient use of our food working with businesses from farm to fork
Priorities the purchasing of wood, re-manufactured and recycled content
Enable communities to take collective action
Support all businesses in Wales to reduce their carbon footprint and become more resource efficient
And take full responsibility for our waste

Please follow click here to view the consultation document and associated documents which summarise the strategy. Deadline for responses is 3 April 2020.

ii) Welsh Government Code Of Practice For The Welfare Of Pigs

Welsh Government is running a consultation to give the industry, enforcement agencies, special interest groups and the public an opportunity to comment on the revised Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs.

The consultation only contains 2 key questions:

Views on the effects that the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs would have on the Welsh language, specifically on opportunities for people to use Welsh and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than English.
Views on how the proposed Code of Practice for Pigs could be formulated or changed so as to have positive effects or increased positive effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language.

There is a final question which asks for any other related issues which could relate to:

the style, layout and content of the Code
the information, advice and guidance contained

To view the consultation document, revised Code of Practice and to respond, please click here. Deadline for responses is 25 May 2020.