Please note, the following updates come directly from Defra, and are not written by Land App.
This month, Defra have made the following announcements:
Avian influenza prevention zone declared: act now to protect poultry businesses
Following a number of detections of avian influenza in poultry and wild and captive birds across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the region to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.
This means that from 13 December it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers within the zone to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size. A map of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is available on GOV.UK.
These measures are the most effective way to prevent the spread of avian influenza, keep birds healthy and protect poultry businesses’ profitability.
The AIPZ now in force across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk does not include a requirement to house birds, unless you are also in a 3km Protection Zone. However, this is being kept under constant review. There may be further measures you are required to follow if you are in the 10km Surveillance Zone or the 3km Protection Zone around a confirmed infected premises. Disease control measures are based on the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice.
Read more about the actions that keepers in the zone must take to prevent disease.
Update on Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
On Wednesday 11 December, Defra published further information about the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme.
The new and improved Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme will open in 2025, providing new quarterly payments designed to improve farmers’ cashflow and a rolling application window so customers can apply throughout the year.
It will include new actions to improve flood resilience, species abundance, important funding to secure enhanced environmental benefits and deliver for nature recovery.
CSHT will open through an initial controlled roll out to ensure everyone gets the necessary support. Initially, applications will be by invitation – on a rolling monthly basis.
To ensure continuity, farmers whose CSHT agri-environment agreements expire in 2024 will be offered mirror agreements lasting 5 or 10 years. Those with Higher Level Stewardship agreements expiring in 2024 will be offered two-year extensions, while those with HLS agreements expiring in 2025 will be offered one or two-year extensions.
Defra are also further improving the SFI offer, by publishing an additional 14 SFI endorsed actions. These will be available from summer 2025 to enable farmers and land managers to contribute further benefits to grassland, heritage and coastal sites, among others.
Farming Resilience Fund: free business advice for your farm
There’s still time to get free business advice for your farm.
The Farming Resilience Fund offers free, tailored business support to help farmers and land managers during the early years of agricultural transition. If you have received direct payments since October 2022, you are eligible and can join the 25,000 farmers and land managers who have received 1-2-1 advice through trusted farming organisations.
While support under the fund is available until March 2025, we advise you to register by December 2024 to ensure your chosen provider has time to deliver high quality business planning support.
For more information on the support available and which organisation can provide free business support in your area, visit: Farming Resilience Fund: free business advice for your farm – GOV.UK
British pork producers to take home the bacon
On 8 December, the Government secured the end of China’s Covid-era restrictions on UK unprocessed pork exports. Industry estimates this could boost revenues by around £80 million.
The move means premium pork products can once again sizzle their way onto Chinese dinner plates, with major UK producers getting the green light to restart their exports immediately.
China bought around £180 million worth of pigmeat in 2023 alone – making them the UK’s biggest non-EU customer. Now, with these restrictions lifted, even more British produce will be heading east.
The development comes after top-level talks during the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to China.
Representatives from Defra and the Department for Business and Trade have worked to get British pork back on Chinese menus in collaboration with industry, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP).
This will help to deliver growth, and follows another recent victory for British farmers and producers, with the government securing access to the US market for UK beetroot growers earlier this year, worth approximately £150,000 per year in increased exports.
Defra will continue to work closely with UK pork producers and traders, as well as relevant industry bodies, to ensure the smooth export of their goods to China.
