Farming Podcast: making SFI work on our upland beef and sheep farm

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On this episode of Defra’s Farming podcast, our regional engagement lead Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton.

Robin and Christopher (often known as ‘Buster’) are a father and son crew. They farm beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands and, after taking part within the pilot, now have a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) settlement.

Within the podcast, they share how they discovered the method to use for his or her settlement and discuss by means of the actions they’ve included.

These embody the actions for natural leys, hedgerows , nutrient administration, built-in pest administration and the Annual Well being and Welfare Overview. 

Robin explains: “We really feel we’re heading in direction of masking what was our BPS. Now, there may be some value hooked up to that, however it is coming as much as considerably extra cash and extra assist for the kind of actions than we anticipated initially.”

Christopher provides: “It’s workable. If it wasn’t, we would not wish to be doing it.”

Because of Robin and Christopher for sharing their expertise. 

Learn the transcript.

Study extra 

We not too long ago revealed a put up  which summarised the latest Agricultural Transition Plan replace. The replace contains the total vary of latest and up to date actions for SFI in addition to fee charges out there in 2024. We additionally hosted a webinar to set out the supply which you’ll be able to watch. 

You possibly can apply for an SFI settlement now and select from the actions at present on supply. By ready for the 2024 actions, you possibly can be shedding out on funding.

As Robin says within the podcast, when you apply now, you may be capable to add actions to your settlement yearly —  or have a number of agreements —  if you’d like to hold out additional actions. 

SFI isn’t aggressive. Anybody who applies and is eligible will get an settlement. You possibly can enter as a lot land as you want: there is no such thing as a minimal or most space. You possibly can select what number of actions you do and, when you’re in SFI, you possibly can add extra land and actions to your settlement annually.

 You’ll obtain your first fee 4 months after your SFI settlement begins. After that you simply’ll be paid each 3 months, so you might have an everyday, dependable earnings. 

Robin and Christopher point out animal well being and welfare. If you’re a livestock farmer, even when you aren’t eligible for BPS, you too can apply now for the Annual Well being and Welfare Overview, a yearly vet go to funded by Defra.

Our devoted SFI web site is an effective place to start out your journey. 

If you wish to discuss to somebody about your utility, the RPA has a devoted crew in place to assist. You can even get free enterprise recommendation on your farm. 

Lastly, we’ll publish a put up which units out the upcoming actions for livestock farmers shortly, so do subscribe to the Farming weblog.