After a challenging SFI application window, AF guest blog author Paul Waberski, Brown & Co Head of Agri Business Consultancy, reflects on what went wrong and shares seven practical steps farmers can take now to help prepare for future applications.
“Now that the difficult calls have been made to clients whose applications we were not able to submit, a time for reflection on lessons learnt would be something constructive to spend a few minutes on and take away from what we in Brown & Co are already calling “that terrible Tuesday”.
“After speaking to several of my colleagues in different offices, based on the challenges experienced (apart from not enough time or funding, which we hope Defra will rectify for next year!) we have drawn up a list of actions that farmers could do to assist your SFI 2027 applications, should the RPA decide to use the same ridiculously unfair and underfunded strategy.
Complete the RPA survey that is currently circulating - to let them know how bad it was.
Register for updates on gov.uk Defra Farming Blog - this is where they announced the scheme opening and the various triggers of funding being used up.
If you are in an existing scheme, use your rotational declaration to think about and plan the next scheme. This could be up to a year in advance. Remember, you may need to move some actions in your existing scheme to allow further actions on specific fields in the next scheme.
Check your land use codes on the RPA site well ahead. Some random things have happened where arable fields have become permanent pasture, which stopped applicants having arable actions on them. Following mapping changes, some parcels become “undeclared” as a land use which locked them out from SFI actions.
Draw up a field schedule with what actions you want on specific fields with those codes, so it’s easy to read on the day.
If certain actions are not being accepted, the screen freezes etc, try to take screenshots and save these for later evidence if you need to appeal.
Write to your MP!
"These points are not a guarantee for a successful submission but certainly can help. For more information or advice, get in touch."
Paul Waberski, Brown & Co Head of Agri Business Consultancy
