{"id":6703,"date":"2021-03-04T09:54:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T09:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genus-develop.go-vip.co\/promar-de\/?p=6703"},"modified":"2021-03-11T13:05:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T13:05:44","slug":"making-the-most-of-the-countryside-stewardship-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.promar-international.com\/de\/making-the-most-of-the-countryside-stewardship-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the most of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Ben Canning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farmers in England can take advantage of an improved Countryside Stewardship (CS) offer<\/a> this year. As we enter the transition period from Basic Payment Scheme<\/a> (BPS) to the Environmental Land Management Scheme<\/a> (ELMS), the stewardship scheme can help to smooth this shift. The new offering will prepare and position farm businesses well for future subsidies.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s new for 2021?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Changes have been made this year to broaden the options available and to make the process simpler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst it\u2019s no longer possible to apply for capital-only agreements under Mid Tier, there\u2019s a new standalone capital grant package available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mid Tiers<\/strong> can still include management options and capital items, with new items available to support improving air and water quality and to help reduce ammonia emissions. Though, Mid Tier capital items will be capped at \u00a3120,000 for air and water quality options and \u00a350,000 for boundary, trees and orchard options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Higher Tier<\/strong> scheme is also available to cover the more environmentally significant sites, commons and woodlands. The options, supplements and capital items available are more complex than Mid Tier due to the needs of these sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Capital Grants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a farmer is only wishing to apply for a capital item, then this is possible through the new capital grant offer<\/strong> element of the stewardship scheme. Land parcels already in existing CS agreements are usually ineligible. An exception to this, however, is land in a wildlife offer agreement which can be used for capital grants at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 67 items available to select from and the maximum grant threshold per application has increased from \u00a310,000 to \u00a360,000. Although there is a limit of \u00a320,000 per category – air quality, water quality and boundaries (fencing is included in the water quality classification).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular capital spending options include,<\/p>\n\n\n\n