Frequently asked questions
This page contains some of the answers to the most frequently asked questions. A helpline is available for any specific or general questions about the project. Call us on 01223 342206 or send us an email with your question to futurefarming@niab.com. We will aim to do our best to answer your question or will take details of your query and then recommend the next step, such as a visit by a consultant for a farm business review or to direct you to a relevant workshop or resource.
What is the purpose of this project?
As part of the Future Farm Resilience Fund, NIAB, in partnership with farm business consultants Savills and AKC, are working to develop a new programme of support and business advice for arable, mixed, dairy, beef and sheep farming businesses throughout England to help your business to:
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understand the effects of the end of BPS payments
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become more resilient and competitive
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make the most of your assets and ensure a sustainable future for your business.
This support is free to any farmer or land manager who receives BPS (Basic Payment Scheme payments) in England, so register your interest today.
Who qualifies for advice during the future farming resilience scale-up phase?
Free advice is available to all farmers and land managers, across all farming sectors, who receive BPS payments.
In order to qualify you must:
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farm within England (farms that stretch across borders with Wales or Scotland can apply if they have some land in England)
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have an SBI number, Defra will ask for this during the application process
Participants who have already taken part in FFRF (Initial and/or Interim Phases with any provider) or have applied for the Exit Scheme can also apply.
As of 14 March 2023, farmers who have a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement but aren’t currently claiming BPS are eligible for support under FFRF. To have an HLS agreement farmers must have management control of the land in the agreement, which is whole farm.
What happens during the scale-up phase?
Once your business has signed up for support during the future farming resilience scale-up phase we will contact you to schedule a one day one-to-one farm business consultation where the selected consultant will work with you to assess your business requirements and develop an action plan to ensure your business gets the best independent adivice and support needed to ensure a sustainable future. The content of the plan will be bespoke to your business and may include:
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farmer workshops to explore the impacts of direct payment reductions and options for change;
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one-to-one support to develop structured change management plans;
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targeted workshops and a resource library on financial, technical and well-being support, to aid change planning;
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in-depth appraisals to address specific issues;
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peer to-peer interaction to share experiences.
All of this is free as all costs are being covered by Defra
What advice is available during the scale-up phase?
NIAB are working closely with farm business consultants Savills and AKC to ensure we provide the best technical and business support which can be tailored to your individual needs and will be delivered after the initial business review.
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Some examples of areas we can offer advice during this phase include (but not limigted to):
Farm business advice:
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In-depth Business Review and help with future business planning
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Joint Ventures
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Debt Re-Structuring
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Feasibility Studies
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Analysis of Capital Investment and Future Funding
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Forward Budgeting and Cashflow Management
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Diversification
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Tenancy Help
Technical advice:
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·Sector productivity and adding value
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·Nutrient management
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·Regenerative agriculture
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·Rotation and crop management
Environmental advice:
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·Opportunities and costs of new schemes
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·Environmental assessments
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·Biodiversity management
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·Carbon auditing and action planning
The support being offered during the FFRF scale-up phase is availableuntil the end of February 2025.
Are we able to support new farmers (new entrants) who have decided not to access BPS and do not have an SBI number
Under the current requirements new farmers (new entrants) are not eligible but obviously this is a group that Defra are trying to encourage into the sector. Defra is currently looking at a support scheme for new entrants and the latest information about it can be found at: A fresh start for new entrants - Future Farming (blog.gov.uk)
Can participants that have received support in the interim phase, receive business resilience audits from our project in the scale-up Phase?
Participants who have already taken part in projects during the Initial and Interim Phases are eligible to participate in this Scale-Up Phase. However, the support offered should be a ‘developed offer,’ i.e., different from what was provided initially and developing on the support already received, or in the form of follow-up support to review progress. To help us in this process you should discuss this with the consultant who contacts you after registration and have a copy of any report received under the initial or interim phase.
Am I still eligible to receive the FFRF service if I have an SBI number but don't claim for BPS?
To be eligible to receive support under FFRF you must be currently in receipt of Direct Payments.
So, you are not eligible if they have an SBI number but don’t claim for BPS.
The overall objective of the scheme is to support farmers and land managers to help them prepare for, and adjust to, the agricultural transition and the eventual removal of Direct Payments. So those that are not in receipt of the direct payments are not eligible.
As of 14 March 2023, farmers who have a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement but aren’t currently claiming BPS are eligible for support under FFRF. To have an HLS agreement farmers have to have management control of the land in the agreement, which is whole farm.
​We are a new farm business that applied for BPS for the first time in 2022, are we eligible for FFRF?
Yes, if your business is currently in receipt of Direct Payments, they will be eligible.
Why is this support not available for businesses in Scotland and Wales?
Whilst England farmers are seeing direct payments being phased out over a seven-year transition period from 2021 to 2028, the UK devolved administrations are introducing their own farm support systems. The Scottish government has confirmed that support payments to the sector are to be maintained at current levels next year. The authorities of Wales and Northern Ireland are also planning to move away from area-based income support towards more targeted payments linked to specific outcomes. The agriculture (Wales) bill (in progress through the Senedd) sets the support framework for the next 15-20 years. The bill introduces an agricultural support scheme called the ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme’ (SFS). https://business.senedd.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=39968 although the Welsh government, has confirmed that farm payments will continue unchanged for the next two years.
How do I sign up for support during the Future Farming Resilience Fund scale-up phase?
To register for support click here to go to the sign up form, alterntively contact us by email: futurefarming@niab.com
or telephone Greg Crawford on 07453 965836
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To qualify for the free support you must be receiving BPS (Basic Payment Scheme payments) in England (farms that stretch across borders with Wales or Scotland can apply if they have some land in England); or as of 14 March 2023, have a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement but aren’t currently claiming BPS. To have an HLS agreement farmers have to have management control of the land in the agreement, which is whole farm.