The RPA Podcast

The RPA Podcast - Episode 11

• RPA • Season 2 • Episode 11

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Welcome to the eleventh episode of The RPA Podcast. In our latest episode, we look at five things you can do to ensure you’re well prepared to apply for Environmental Land Management schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Kevin Lamacq, a Continuous Improvement Manager from RPA’s Customer team, talks about what you can do to get scheme ready, ensuring the application process will be quicker and easier.

In our second section, we speak with Emma Bryan from RPA’s Regulatory and Advice Service about the public consultation which has been launched to seek views on how the implementation of the new hedgerow regulations (Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024) which came into force in May, will be approached. 

If you would like to participate and add your views to the consultation on the regulatory approach and use of civil sanctions for hedgerow management, please click here. The consultation closes on the 10th December 2024. 

The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.

By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information.

RPA Podcast 11

Intro

Caroline Ling: Hello and welcome to the eleventh episode of The RPA Podcast. I’m Caroline Ling and in today’s programme we look at five things you can do to ensure you’re well prepared to apply for Environmental Land Management schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

In the second part of the podcast we talk about the public consultation on the regulatory approach and use of civil sanctions for hedgerow management. 

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Item 1: ‘Getting ready’  

Caroline: But first, RPA wants to ensure farmers and customers are well prepared before applying for any agri-environment scheme and we’re joined today by Kevin Lamacq, a Continuous Improvement Manager from RPA’s Customer team, who’s going to talk about five things you can do to get scheme ready, ensuring the application process will be quicker and easier. Welcome Kevin. 

Kevin: Thanks, Caroline, it’s good to be here. 

Caroline: So, this item is all about helping customers to get ready to apply for any scheme as soon as we’re accepting applications. RPA will always let customers know specific details about scheme availability as soon as we can, but in the meantime, Kevin, there are things that farmers can be doing? 

Kevin: Yes, first of all you need to make sure you’re able to sign in to the Rural Payments service. To do that, you’ll need your Customer Record Number and password. The CRN is a 10 digit number which was emailed to you when you first created your account. If you’ve forgotten the password, you can reset this on the login page. 

Caroline: Thanks Kevin. And you need to sign in to ensure your personal and business details are up to date? 

Kevin: Yes, that’s right. You need to sign in to the Rural Payments service to check and update, if necessary, your personal and business details, particularly your postal and email addresses and phone numbers, as we often correspond using the business email address. You also need to check your business permissions, your scheme permissions and your land data. 

Caroline: Thanks Kevin. I believe it’s slightly different if you need to update your bank account details? 

Kevin: Yes, it is. If you need to update your bank account details, you must do this by calling the helpline on 03000 200 301 and choosing the appropriate options.  

Caroline: And what about land details? 

Kevin: Yes, it’s very important that your land details are up to date. You should also make sure that certain details are correct on your digital maps, and these would be: The land parcel sizes and boundaries. The land cover boundaries and types. And also hedges.If new land needs to be registered, or existing land needs to be changed, you can now do this through the online Rural Land Change request process. Land changes should be completed before you apply for a scheme. 

Caroline: That’s very helpful Kevin. And what about land transfers? 

Kevin: Land transfers can be done in the Rural Payments service in a section next to the ‘Request Rural Land Changes’ section. It isn’t part of the Rural Land Change process – it stands next to it in the “Land” area of the Rural Payments service. All land changes, such as boundary changes, land cover changes, splits and merges can be submitted through the Rural Land Change process. 

Caroline: Thanks Kevin. And I know you also wanted to mention the Funding for farmers page, and Grant Finder. 

Kevin: Yes, that’s right, the ‘Funding for farmers’ page on GOV.UK contains information about grants and funding for farmers and land managers. This includes actions you can get paid for as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and more grants and funding will be added as they become available. The page is at the top of the ‘Hot links’ section of the RPA homepage – you can also Google ‘Funding for farmers’ to find it. For Sustainable Farming Incentive specific actions, you can search ‘RPA find funding for land and farms tool’.  

The latest actions for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier haven’t been published yet, but more information on the types of preparatory plans and works we often fund under Higher Tier is available on our Grant Finder. To access that, just Google ‘Countryside Stewardship Grant Finder’. 

Caroline: Thanks Kevin. And besides those links you’ve already mentioned, is there anywhere else people can find more information? 

Kevin: There are several videos available explaining the request processes – to find these, search for ‘Rural land change requests’ on YouTube. Also, if you go on RPA’s gov.uk homepage you can find information on grants and the support available. You can also find a link to the RPA blog and how to follow us on social media. 

You can scroll to the bottom of the GOV.UK page and click ‘Get emails’ to be automatically updated when we’ve added new information. The Defra Farming Blog also contains useful updates and information. 

Caroline: That’s great Kevin. We’ll also put links in the transcript for this podcast to all the pages you’ve mentioned, and also the helpline number. Thank you very much for joining us, that’s been really helpful. 

Kevin: Thanks Caroline, it’s been a pleasure.  

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Item 2: new hedgerows regulations.

Caroline: Back in May this year, new hedgerow regulations (Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024) came into force and RPA has been appointed to act as the Regulator. A public consultation has been launched to seek views on how the implementation of these regulations will be approached. Joining me today to talk about this is Emma Bryan from RPA’s Regulatory and Advice Service. Hi Emma, thanks for joining us.

Emma: Thanks Caroline, it’s good to be here.

Caroline: So, Emma, can you tell us a bit more about the regulations and why they were introduced?

Emma: Of course, the regulations were introduced to protect hedgerows on agricultural land as they provide essential habitats as well as acting as a wildlife corridor. Hedgerows also help to slow soil erosion and support crop pollinators, which benefits the environment and supports farming.  

We want to safeguard these crucial habitats and protect biodiversity through the no cutting period and mandatory buffer strips. 

Caroline: Thanks Emma. That’s interesting. And can you tell us more about the proposed regulatory approach?

Emma: Well, we’re proposing a fair and proportionate regulatory approach when deciding how we implement civil sanctions. We’ll offer advice and guidance to farmers, land owners and all others covered by the rules to help them , but we will apply civil and criminal sanctions for more serious breaches.  

Caroline: And can you tell us more about the consultation?

Emma: The consultation gives any interested party the opportunity to have their say on our approach. We want people to tell us what they think by answering a series of questions in the consultation document which is on GOV.UK – search for hedgerows management consultation. Following the consultation, which closes at 11.45pm on 10 December, we’ll publish a final version of the statutory guidance document and a summary of the consultation responses we receive.  

Caroline: Thank you Emma. Yes, we’d urge people to have their say and fill in the consultation document. And where can people find more information on the hedgerow management rules?

Emma For anyone who’s interested you can find more information on Gov.uk. Search for Hedgerow management rules: cutting and trimming and also Hedgerow management rules: buffer strips - GOV.UK.

Caroline: Thanks Emma, we’ll also put links for those into the transcript for this podcast and a link to the consultation document. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us about this, we really appreciate it.

Emma: Thanks Caroline, it’s been a pleasure. 

End

Consultation link: Consultation on the regulatory approach and use of civil sanctions for hedgerow management - Defra - Citizen Space