Reconsider Higher Level Stewardship to secure income
Farmers and landowners who had Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) applications rejected in 2012 may now find they get a better reception as Natural England (NE) begins a new funding year.
“Where HLS applications have previously been submitted and declined, farmers and landowners should enter into dialogue with their project officer at Natural England,” said Strutt & Parker consultant Mark Juniper.
“Recently there appears to have been some movement of goal posts and previously rejected schemes may now be considered,” he said.
This was particularly the case where certain target area objectives were satisfied, particularly in relation to biodiversity action plans for species and habitat.
In particular those with Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes ending in 2013 should consider HLS to secure income, advised Mr Juniper.
There was a window of opportunity until the end of 2013 when the EU budget would be finalised and the CAP review completed.
“I’ve had a number of applications where the Farm Environment Plans which support them were rejected 12 months ago but Natural England is now showing renewed interest in the schemes and two of these are currently going ahead.”
It was important to engage fully with NE in the process. “Get them onto the farm to suggest what options would work – it’s important that they have ‘ownership’ of the scheme,” said Mr Juniper.
“Where HLS applications have previously been submitted and declined, farmers and landowners should enter into dialogue with their project officer at Natural England.”
Mark Juniper, Strutt & Parker
Continuing volatility in commodities markets and the impact of the 2012-13 season on productivity and bottom line were further reasons to consider both Entry Level Stewardship and HLS potential, he said.
With saturated soils and many ditch and drain networks likely to be inundated, the choice of management options for new or reviewed schemes may provide a further opportunity to protect or improve productivity.
“There is potential for different options to be implemented in future that will facilitate ditch clearing and maintenance works, in particular the creation of buffer strips around field boundaries.
“Under this management option (Code EE3 for a 6m wide margin) these options must be put in place within the first year of the agreement and this therefore provides an opportunity for ditches to be cleared, drains to be maintained and spoil arising to be spread on the adjacent field after which the buffer strip can be established over this area once the spoil has settled.”
To avoid a mass exodus from environmental stewardship in future, member states would have to balance CAP reform greening requirements against the successful delivery of environmental stewardship schemes, said Mr Juniper. He is hopeful schemes started this year will count towards greening requirements of the reformed CAP.
But the cost benefit of each application must be assessed on a holding by holding basis, he said. “This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution but will be of benefit to some, especially those losing CSS and ESA funding this year.”
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