Today I facilitated a meeting providing local farmers and stakeholders to question the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and Defra officials about the new Future Farming and Countryside Programme (FFCP), the new payments regime that will replace the current Basic Payment Scheme. The event was held at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold and was well attended by a number of local farmers, land agents, the NFU, CLA and other stakeholders and a number of officials from the government agencies including the CEO of the RPA, Paul Caldwell.
This event was a crucial opportunity for the farming community to raise concerns, especially given the circumstances of the past year and the significant concerns about a completely new and unproven payment scheme. I’m particularly pleased we were able to hold this physically and have a lively and productive discussion. I thank the RPA and Defra for all their attendance. Financial support is critical for local farming businesses, families and communities and we must get the system right first time.
At the event, the RPA provided an update on the delivery of their current schemes and gave details on the Future Farming and Countryside Programme (FFCP). The RPA’s aim is to ensure they use their experience in planning and delivering new schemes and that these schemes work for farmers and land managers. The meeting covered the three future schemes: Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery as well as the early roll out of Sustainable Farming Incentive.
If you were not able to attend but wished to raise any concerns, do get in touch with my office who seek answers from the RPA and Defra.
