Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) loan

The BPS loan facility is to help farmers who may not receive their BPS 2018 payment when the payment window opens on 1 December. If you have submitted an application for BPS 2018 via the Single Application Form (SAF) 2018 we encourage you to consider applying for a loan. This is an opt in scheme which means you need to apply for a loan by 30 November if you wish to receive a loan payment in the event your BPS 2018 claim has not been fully processed. Broadcast messages have been issued (w/c 5 November) to farm businesses whose application is currently not ready for payment on 1 December. Please check your RPW Online account.

Changes to Government Gateway

A new Government Gateway registration process will go live during the week beginning 10 December. This means, existing RPW Online customers will be asked to verify their email address, create a memorable safe word (used for account recovery) and keep or amend their existing login details. In order to facilitate a smooth transition, RPW Online may be unavailable from 11 to 14 December. Any customers who have been issued an activation code, but not registered on RPW Online by 10 December, will need to wait until 14 December when the new online account activation will be available.

RPW Online – New Customer Online Registration

From 14 December onwards, RPW will also be moving from its paper-based registration process to a new RPW online registration system. This online registration process will allocate new customers unique Customer Reference Numbers (CRN)s and provide instant access to the RPW Online website.

Glastir Commons extensions and renewals

Extension and renewal contracts have now been issued. Farm businesses have 21 days from the date of the contract being issued to accept or decline. Please check your RPW Online account. 

Glastir All Wales Entry 2019

Extended Entry contracts have now been issued. Farm businesses have 21 days from the date of the contract being issued to accept or decline. Please check your RPW Online account.

Glastir Advanced Renewals

Renewal Contracts will be issued shortly. Farm businesses will have 21 days from the date of the contract being issued to accept or decline. Please check your RPW Online account.

Scheme windows currently open

Tourism Product Innovation Fund (TPIF) - until 23 November

Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF) – Window 5 – until 23 November

Food Business Investment Scheme - until 29 November
Rural Business Investment Scheme – until 3 December

Project to improve sustainability of Welsh dairy industry 

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, is urging farmers to apply for support through a new project to improve the health of herds and boost the future sustainability of the dairy industry.

Red Meat benchmarking

The Welsh Government, through the EU Transition Fund is supporting beef and sheep farmers to benchmark their data and to help identify improvements for their businesses. The project is open to 2,000 eligible producers on a first come first served basis. Participating producers will receive a detailed written analysis of their data and £1,000 to compensate for their time and effort. The closing date for inputting data will be 10 December.

Changes to water abstraction licensing for previously exempt abstractions in Wales

In the past, certain abstractors have been exempt from needing a licence to take water, this has now changed. Previous exempt sites can include farms, caravan parks, quarries and industrial operations. The licensing application window opened on 1 January 2018 and closes on 31 December 2019.

Forage support

Farming Connect’s technical advice service is available to help support farmers to manage with the challenges resulting from the dry period over the summer. This includes advice on wintering options, feed planning and how to overcome shortfall in crops. Farmers can also make use of Farming Connect’s free online winter feed budget calculator.

Get ready for winter on the farm

With winter fast approaching, it is very important that you start preparing for winter now to help ease the impact on your farm business and to reduce the risks of something serious happening. Making some small changes now can save you considerable time, distress and money in the future.

Changes to the valuation of in-calf cattle for TB compensation

Changes to the valuation process of in-calf cattle for TB compensation came into force on 1 November.

Additional contiguous testing in Intermediate TB Area North to be implemented

The implementation of additional contiguous testing in the Intermediate TB Area North (ITBAN) following a spike in TB incidents has been announced.

What to do if you find a dead badger

Any individual who comes across a dead badger carcass should call 0808 1695110 for further information and instruction in dealing with these carcases.

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 

Defra is seeking views to help examine the continuing need for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the statutory levy and what the levy board should deliver. Open until midnight on 9 November 2018. Click the headline to take part.

Application window now open for the Farming Connect Management Exchange programme 2019

Are you a farmer or forester whose business would benefit by seeing how successful businesses operate in Europe?

Fodder beet drives output on Powys farmer's forage-based system

A Welsh beef producer is maximising output per hectare (ha) by grazing cattle on fodder beet.

Micro Small Business Fund (MSBF)

MSBF is an investment fund for projects in the tourism sector in Wales. It can be used either to upgrade existing or create new high quality product.