From 01 January 2023, a number of added measures include:-

• Risk maps – these must be produced and maintained if you intend to spread manure and/or slurry on the holding. Maps should highlight areas on which spreading may cause a pollution risk,  including buffer zones, surface water and boreholes.
• Storage of Organic manure  – other than slurry, this must be stored in a vessel; covered building; on an impermeable surface; or a temporary field heap. Field heaps must be recorded on the risk map.
• Import/export of manure  – any manure imported/exported onto/off the holding must be recorded.
• Fertiliser Applications & Field Limits – fertiliser applied must not exceed specified crop limits, and the total amount of nitrogen in organic manure spread per Hectare on the holding  must not exceed 250kg for any 12-month rolling period.
  
• Records – a Nitrogen Management Plan must be established and records kept  for any nitrogen fertiliser application.

Please refer to the full guidance available from Welsh Government via the following link:-

https://www.gov.wales/water-resources-control-agricultural-pollution-wales-regulations-2021-guidance-farmers-and-land

If you require assistance from CARA with setting up /maintaining your records, please contact us on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

The 2nd Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Efficiency is 16 January to 24 February 2023.

This  is a capital scheme designed to help farmers in Wales to improve the technical, financial and environmental performance of their farm businesses.

The maximum grant award is £12,000 and the minimum is £1,000.

Previous participation in the Farm Business Grant will not affect your ability to apply for the maximum £12,000 grant.

The grant provides a maximum 40% contribution towards capital investments in equipment and machinery (excluding VAT), which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to farm businesses.

The grant will be a maximum 40% contribution against actual invoiced costs up to the maximum referenced costs as stated within the list of eligible capital items.

To view the Rules Booklet, please click here

and for a detailed list of Eligible Capital Items, please click here

The EOI is only available  on your RPW Online account. If you require further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Environment is 09 January to 17 February 2023 (extended to 03 March 2023).

This round of Small Grants -Environment will address the theme of Hedgerow creation, and is a standalone scheme providing a maximum of £7,500 funding per business for Capital Works Projects.

The Hedgerow creation option is eligible in the following locations:

• Along existing field boundaries where no hedgerow had previously been located.
• Within fields, to establish new boundaries.
• On hedge banks (earth banked and stone-faced earth banks) where no woody hedge plant remnants exist along the entire length to be planted.
• On existing hedge banks where some woody hedge plant remnants exist. (There would be substantial gaps between these remnants, and they would not be subject to mechanical trimming)
• On existing hedge banks where there are some existing mature trees that are retained. (Not a continuous row of trees)
• To plant gaps within existing hedgerows which are 20m or longer.

This option is not eligible where:

• There are continuous woody hedge plants along the whole length of the proposed planting area.
• There is a continuous row of existing mature trees.
• Existing remnants of a hedge have been mechanically cut or trimmed to maintain a hedgerow feature.
• To plant gaps within existing hedgerows which are less than 20m.

New fencing will only be paid where it protects a newly planted section of hedgerow.

Capital Works projects must be claimed for and submitted with before and after geo-tagged photos by 31/03/2024.