Following the success of earlier phases of the Future Farming Resilience programme, Devon County Council have received DEFRA funding to expand the initiative which will now cover Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly.
The aim is to help farmers, land managers and their families understand the changes and adapt to the gradual phasing out of Basic Payments which will end altogether in 2027.
The new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS) which replaces it, will encourage farmers to focus on sustainable farming practices, encourage biodiversity and create new habitats for wildlife. The Future Farming Resilience programme will play a vital role in making farmers aware of the government support that will be available to replace these payments.
The support is free and now available until January 2025 to any farmer or land manager currently in receipt of BPS payments located in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, or the Isles of Scilly.
One farmer who has benefited from the Future Farming Resilience programme is South Devon farmer Hannah Reddaway and her family.
There are 4 main areas of support being provided through this programme, which are described in more detail below
- Information workshops
- One-to-one support
- Specialist workshops
- Digital workshops
Transition workshops
These sessions inform farmers, landowners, and their families of the changes in support during the Agricultural Transition.
The changes mainly describe the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) support to payment for public goods and the various supporting grant schemes through the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).
These sessions outline how to handle the reduction of BPS payments, discuss the new grant schemes available through the ELMS, and assess options for the future.
All include refreshments and a free buffet. Dates and locations will be added regularly.
One-to-one support
For information workshop attendees that want to further explore how the proposed changes will affect their unique businesses, business advisors will work with the farm to do a detailed business analysis and calculate the reductions in BPS over 2021-2027 period and the subsequent impact on business profitability.
The business advisor will support the farm to explore the options open to them as the changes affect their business and create a bespoke action plan, these can be carried out in-person or remotely.
Specialist workshops
Themes that are addressed through information workshops and one-to-one support sessions will be further explored in workshops, covering themes such as:
- Exiting the farming industry
- Woodland creation
- Farm/family succession planning
- Business diversification
- Productivity actions
- Environmental schemes
- Business planning and cashflows
- Marketing
- Grant schemes
Digital workshops
Digital agency & social enterprise Cosmic will be providing training to improve digital skills, which includes free workshops and one-to-one advice, all featuring training to help build your digital confidence and help support you in running the farm business.
This can include making applications and requesting payments for:
- Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.
- Submitting tax online to HMRC.
- Promoting a diversified farm using social media, Google, or paid online advertising.
The sessions are delivered in a no-nonsense, practical, and supportive manner, free of jargon!
These sessions aim to:
- Help to identify your digital technology needs from the very basics through to advanced skills.
- Provide training from highly skilled practitioners, who have years of experience, and the proven ability to tackle digital and technology challenges.
- Support you in a uniquely kind, friendly, and inspiring way.
- Grow your confidence and trust in technology in a safe and responsible way.
- Increase your confidence, reduce isolation, and improve digital literacy.
Contact details
For full details of the support and to register on any of the workshops please contact Business Information Point
- Business Information Point website
- Email: team@businessinfopoint.co.uk
- Phone number: 0800 592 872
