North West Cattle Producers Accociation

SRDP, help for cattle keepers

The new Rural Priorities section of the SRDP has opened for business. Access for information and making an applications is through the Rural Payments On Line gateway, https://sedsh04.sedsh.gov.uk/esd/xsql/sys_getLogin.xsql

If you have not used this service before then you will have to Register and enrol. This is a relatively simple procedure, you will need to know either your Business Reference number or your Farm code.

Once you are logged into the payments website, follow the links to the Rural Priorities pages.

The package that may be of help to cattle keepers is “Safeguarding and Enhancing the Landscape” Two options under this package may be helpful,

Conservation management for small units

Grazing management for cattle

You cannot apply for the Grazing cattle option without providing a Conservation management plan in the first option

Conservation Management of Small Units,

Basically this asks you to produce a conservation management plan for your whole unit including apportionments

The Plan must:

set out clear environmental objectives and describe how you will manage the unit to meet these objectives
address all relevant activities on the unit. For example: cropping, managing grazing, livestock, habitats or features of special interest (including BAP habitats and species) and pollution control.

There is a one off payment off £180 for preparing the plan and thereafter annual payments of £25/hectare for 5 years. There is also payments available for fencing and provision of a water supply.

The maximum size of units that are eligible for this option is 20 Hectares, excluding apportionments, payment rates also exclude apportionments.

Grazing Management for cattle

This Option must be part of a Conservation Management Plan with Special Measures for Small Units. The Plan must describe how you will manage the cattle to benefit the special habitats or features on your land.

There are different Options for keeping cattle or introducing them to the holding. You may only choose one of these.

Keeping cattle: choose this Option if you already keep breeding cows of Scottish traditional or native breed(s) on your holding. You must continue to keep two or more breeding cows of Scottish traditional or native breed(s) on your holding for the lifetime of the agreement.
Introducing cattle: choose this Option if you do not keep cattle or your existing herd has fewer than two breeding cows of Scottish traditional or native breed(s). By the end of the first year of the plan you must introduce two or more breeding cows or heifers of Scottish traditional or native breed(s) on your holding, with the heifers to calve down by the end of the second year of the plan. To avoid over-grazing, you may need to reduce the number of sheep in proportion to the number of cattle introduced. For the remainder of the agreement you must continue to keep two or more breeding cows of Scottish traditional or native breed(s) on your holding.

Who can apply

You can apply if the area of in-bye land occupied by your business is not more than 20 hectares, excluding any apportionments, house and steading.

Eligibility criteria

Land receiving payments for similar management under other agri-environment schemes is not eligible under this Option.

A breeding cow is a cow that forms part of a herd either used for rearing calves for meat production or used for milk production and has borne a calf.

Any of the following Scottish native and traditional breeds are acceptable under this Option:

Aberdeen Angus , Ayrshire, Belted Galloway, Galloway, Highland, Luing, Shetland, Shorthorn,

and first crosses of these native breeds. You may use a continental bull across the herd.

This is a 5 year commitment. We will pay you per hectare of land managed under either Option:

Payment Rates

Keeping cattle £185 per hectare per year.

Introducing cattle £273 per hectare per year.

Again there also other eligible payments for fencing, water supply, bracken eradication…..

These are the two principle options in this package that are appropriate to cattle keepers, but if you going to make an application it is worth looking including some of the other options which might apply to your holding, for instance

Cropping machair, Various options to aid corncrakes, wild life, species rich grassland, This package basically replaces the now closed Rural stewardship scheme,

I am intending to make an application under this package, I will be writing up my experience here, and will be happy to help others. I would also be interested to hear of your experiences of making an application.

Phil Taylor

1^st May 2008

Email info@nwcpa.org.uk