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Government agencies join forces to offer free advice and grants
to farmers
07 October 2009
After summer trials with a cross-section of the region's
farmers, the official roll-out of the South West Agricultural
Resource Management Initiative (ARM), gets under way at the South
West Dairy Show on Wednesday (7 October).
This phase of the initiative consists of three linked
strands:
- Soils for Profit - professional advice on making best use of
resources such as soils, manures, nutrients;
- Resource Efficiency for Farmers - professional advice on best
managing resources such as energy, water, air and non-organic
wastes (e.g. plastics); and
- A small capital grant scheme to help implement relevant actions
identified in the advice stages.
Details will be announced at the show when representatives of
the agencies involved will join forces to explain more about the
initiative, which offers free advice on resource management to
farmers and growers - plus grants of up to £10,000 for those who
undertake capital works identified through the initiative.
And there is good news for the region's dairy farmers. In the
short term, they will qualify for enhanced capital grants of up to
£20,000 - as a result of a £700,000 boost for the region's dairy
sector from the European Economic Recovery Plan. Even when the
one-off EERP allocation has been awarded, dairy farmers will still
qualify for the standard £10,000 grant.
Designed to help farmers to manage resources more efficiently,
and make their businesses more profitable, resilient and
environmentally-friendly, the initiative is funded through the
Rural Development Programme for England.
The summer trials were undertaken to ensure that the initiative
will be easy to use and to the process was refined in response to
experience and feedback. It involved behind-the-scenes
collaboration between the South West RDA, which manages the
initiative, and Natural England, the Environment Agency and
Business Link (through the Rural Enterprise Gateway) which are
delivering the service to farmers.
The ARM initiative has been welcomed by the NFU. Paul
Cottington, its SW environment adviser, said: "Resource management,
including water and soils, is crucial to helping secure viable
farming businesses. The advice, guidance and capital support given
through this programme linked to the existing help through the
Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative represents a joined up
approach that will deliver real benefits for our South West
farmers. "
Catherine Martin, RDPE manager (Cornwall) at the South West RDA,
explained: "Basically, the process will involve a free farm visit
from an adviser who will produce an Agricultural Resource
Management Action Plan. That will include detailed technical
information on resource use and a set of recommended investments or
actions which should lead to increased production and efficiency.
Some of the investments may be eligible for support through the
capital grant scheme."
David Hynd, manager of Business Link's Rural Enterprise Gateway
service, said: "We have already had a lot of interest in this
initiative because of its potential to help farmers operate much
more efficiently. The initiative will also protect and safeguard
the environment by improving resource efficiency and reducing
pollution."
Natural England regional director Janette Ward said, "Natural
England is pleased to be working with the South West RDA,
Environment Agency and Business Link to deliver the Soils for
Profit project part of the SWARM initiative over the next four
years. We are keen to support farmers in the South West contribute
to improving environmental quality and help them tackle climate
change pressures while saving costs."
The partners behind the agricultural resource management
initiative are also getting together at the South West Dairy Show
to provide farmers with information about the wide range of support
available to them - not just through the initiative but through the
whole of RDPE.
There will be a combined presentation in the morning at the show
and advisers with more information will be available to talk to
from 9 a.m. on Stand 28b, Middle Avenue, at The Dairy Show, Royal
Bath and West Showground, at Shepton Mallet.
For farmers not attending the show, further information is
available from Business Link on 0845 6009966 or visit the website
www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest/rural and
Natural England on 0300 060 1244
Ends
Notes to editors
RDPE
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from
2007 to 2013. It is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural
Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable
farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider
benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It
provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing
the environment and securing a range of public benefits for
society. Defra is the Managing Authority.
The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:
1. Improving competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry
sectors
2. Improving the environment and the countryside
3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging
diversification of economic activity
In this region, the South West of England Regional Development
Agency (RDA) will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8
million over the seven years. The RDA is also responsible for
ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on
enabling community involvement in rural development. The delivery
partners in the South West aim to ensure that investment in each of
the three priorities will help support investment in the
others.
The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the
countryside is being delivered nationally by the Forestry
Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme and Natural England's
Environmental Stewardship Scheme. In addition, a minimum of 5% of
the programme will be delivered through a local community-led
approach.
The aims, objectives and priorities for delivering RDPE in South
West England were agreed for the socio-economic investments with
regional partners and these are set out in the Regional
Implementation Plan. On the basis of a thorough analysis of South
West England's rural characteristics and economy, the Plan sets out
eight themes:
i. Skills development
ii. Social enterprise
iii. Business support
iv. Supply chain and adding value
v. Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)
vi. Sustainable rural tourism
vii. Biodiversity and landscape
viii. Community-led development
Further more information on the RDPE and the schemes see
www.sw-ruralgateway.info
Organisations involved in delivering RDPE
The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It
works in partnership with public, private and social purpose
organisations to drive up the region's productivity by giving
people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise, improving
infrastructure, regenerating places and promoting the strengths of
the region. For more information see www.southwestrda.org.uk
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve
and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban,
coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural
environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of
people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information
see www.naturalengland.org.uk Environmental Stewardship (ES) was
launched in 2005, builds on the very best practice already evident
in British farming. During the period 2007-13 the national budget
for ES will be £2.9 billion. The objectives of ES are to:
- Conserve wildlife (biodiversity).
- Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character.
- Protect the historic environment and natural resources.
- Promote public access and understanding of the
countryside.
- Natural resource protection.
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible
for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with
grants, tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the
benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Government on
forestry policy. For further information, visit
www.forestry.gov.uk/england-swe
Organisations helping to deliver the South West Agricultural
Resources Initiative
The Environment Agency is an Executive Non-Departmental Public
Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Sponsored Public Body responsible
to the National Assembly for Wales. Our principal aims are to
protect and improve the environment, and to
promote sustainable development. We play a central role in
delivering the environmental priorities of Central Government and
the Welsh Assembly Government through our functions
and roles as:
- an environmental regulator
- an environmental operator
- a monitor of the state of the environment
- an adviser on the development of environmental policy, and
- a promoter of scientific research in support of these
roles.
For further information visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Business Link is a Government funded service to help people
start, run and grow businesses. The service provides free
information, advice and support through a combination of a local
telephone enquiry service, an extensive regional website,
www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest,
and experienced business advisers. It is the primary single 'access
point' to link businesses to the local and national business
support network. The Business Link service is delivered by
Peninsula Enterprise throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,
Devon and Somerset, and has supported well over 43,000 people
starting or running businesses in the region over the past year,
achieving a satisfaction rating that approaches 90% and is
continuing to climb. The service includes South West REG.
For more information, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwestor
call 0845 600 9966
Contact Details
Name Pat Murray - South West RDA
Tel 07733264756
Email pat.murray@southwestrda.org.uk