RDPE Update May 1, 2013 12:00 am As the current Rural Development Programme (RDP) comes to an end on 31st December 2013 DEFRA, Natural England and the Forestry Commission have released some key dates that scheme claimants need to be aware of. ELS With all agreements commencing at the beginning of a month, the latest possible start date for an Environmental Stewardship agreement under the current RDPE is 1st December 2013. Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) applications must be made at least three months before the start date and therefore the latest date for applications is 1st September 2013. However, Natural England is encouraging claimants not to leave their applications until the very last date if possible. HLS No completely new HLS applications are now possible. Natural England agreed a list of holdings to be included in the 2013 HLS application programme in spring 2012 and its advisers are currently working with customers to progress their applications to meet the agreed timescales. Applicants are warned if they do not return a valid application by their agreed date they will be removed from the 2013 HLS programme. Energy Crops Scheme Those still wishing to enter into the Energy Crops Scheme (ECS) have until 31st August 2013 to submit a valid application to Natural England. ‘Offer’ letters need to be returned to Natural England by 20th December 2013 at the latest. Under the ECS rules it is possible to phase planting over 2013, 2014 and 2015 but all claims must be completed and paid by the end of December 2015. As yet there has been no decision on how energy crops will be supported under the new RDPE. Woodland Grants Scheme In general English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) applications under this RDPE round must be approved by 31st December 2013. Where the first claim for a scheme is received before 31st December the agreement will be subject to the current scheme rules, if the first claim is received from 1st January 2014 the agreement will be subject to new rules. Of importance to farmers is the Farm Woodland Premium payment within the Woodland Creation Grant. It is possible this may not be available under the next programme. To allow payment to be paid into the next round, claims will need to be planted and submitted by 31st December 2013. The Forestry Commission is expecting a high volume of applications and only has a limited budget. It is advising claimants to get their applications in as soon as possible. Further information can be found at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Email-Alert-130305.pdf/$FILE/Email-Alert-130305.pdf Transitional Arrangements In February’s Bulletin we wrote about the fact that the current RDPE programme finishes at the end of this year but DEFRA doesn’t expect any new agreements to start until 1st January 2016. There is thus a requirement for transitional arrangements for those whose agreements end between these dates. The EU Rural Development Committee has now agreed that during 2014 Member States can decide to offer new agri-environment agreements under the current scheme rules and also to extend any expiring ones until the end of 2014. DEFRA and Natural England are currently considering how this could be implemented in 2014 due to budgetary constraints. More information is expected shortly, interestingly there is no mention of 2015. The latest scheme development bulletin can be found at – http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/scheme-development-bulletin-april-2013_tcm6-35630.pdf
