Herefordshire Rural Hub April 2019 Newsletter
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Herefordshire Rural Hub Helping Rural Businesses Thrive Company No: 7495168 April 2019 Newsletter Herefordshire Rural Hub CIC “An exciting opportunity for your family farm” Agriculture House …. 2020 Vision for Herefordshire’s Family Farms Beech Business Park Tillington Road The Herefordshire Rural Hub are currently delivering the “2020 Hereford, HR4 9QJ Vision for Herefordshire’s Family Farms” project, with support Tel: 01432 268 428 from The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Co-ordinator We currently have one space available for a farm business to take Caron Johnson part in the final year of this project. [email protected] The project aims to help farming families achieve long term Administrator viability in these challenging times. A unique package of business Frances Keogh support will be provided to include free mentoring. [email protected] If you are interested in filling this space, or would just like further Event bookings information about the project, please contact the Tel: 01432 353 465 Project Facilitator, Sarah Starkey. [email protected] email: [email protected] Hub Directors or telephone: 07974 438 517 Liz Lloyd (Chair) Chris England Christine Hope Cathy Meredith Kate Speke HAVE YOU VISITED THE Hub Hot Group Herefordshire Rural Hub website The Directors and ….. Lots of useful contacts and links to Jenny Beard Ben Corbett information, funding etc. Paul Crumpton Details of forthcoming events in and around the County. Catherine Every News items of interest. Past Newsletters. Charlotte Gibb Clare Greener Go To Businesses. Caron Johnson Rachel Jones Find out about Herefordshire Rural Hub Frances Keogh Andy Offer & who we work with. Julian Partridge Check it out at:- www.herefordshireruralhub.co.uk Nick Read If you have your own website please add a link to our website, Disclaimer and also share it via social media. Thank you. The Herefordshire Rural Hub You can also follow us on twitter@Hfds_RuralHub accepts no liability for any direct, indirect or and on Facebook - search Herefordshire Rural Hub consequential loss arising from any action taken in reliance on the information contained Copy deadline for the next newsletter is: - in this newsletter. th 15 April 2019 Cross Compliance & Basic Payment Scheme – England The Guide Cross Compliance in England 2019 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cross-compliance-2019 Guidance for Basic Payment Scheme 2019 in England https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bps-2019 Sign in to check/update your land use/submit BPS claim at https://www.gov.uk/claim-rural-payments Cross Compliance & Single Application Form - Wales The Guide to Cross Compliance in Wales 2019 https://beta.gov.wales/cross-compliance-2019 Single Application Form 2019 Wales – Rules https://beta.gov.wales/single-application-form-saf-2019-rules-booklet Sign in to complete your Single Application Form (Wales) at https://gov.wales/login-rural-payments-wales-rpw-online Application deadline for both schemes is 15th May 2019 Applications for Countryside Stewardship Schemes Handbooks and further information HERE Mid-Tier - Request an application pack by 31st May. Application deadline 31st July Online Wildlife Offers (Arable, Mixed farming, Upland, Lowland) - Application deadline 31st July Hedgerows & Boundaries – Application deadline 3rd May Higher-Tier – you should have requested your application pack by 31st March. Application deadline 3rd May Call 03000 200 301 to request Application packs Catchment Sensitive Farming Countryside Stewardship is Open! The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is now open for applications for Mid-Tier and Water Capital Grants. The handbook and further information are available online and can be found here. A similar range of capital and land based options are available as in previous years. Free Catchment Sensitive Farming advice is available for farmers looking to use the scheme to make improvements for water quality both in the yard and across the wider farm. Please note that some items are only available to priority holdings for water quality and must be approved by a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) prior to making the application. If you need approval from a CSFO, the deadline for contacting your CSFO to arrange a visit is 31st May 2019 Free CSF Advisory Visits CSF offers a number of free farm advice visits to farmers in the Wye and Teme catchments. The visits are confidential and designed to help farmers with specific issues affecting their farming business. Some of the most popular visits we offer are: • Farm Infrastructure Audits - A detailed look into your farmyard, buildings, silage/slurry stores etc with practical advice on current regulations and potential improvements. The visit also signposts you to other sources of advice and funding where appropriate. • Biobed and Sprayer Washdown Area Design Visit – Gives practical advice for farmers considering installing a sprayer washdown area with biobed or bio filter, including siting and size considerations as well as management and current regulations. • Nutrient Management Plan – Provides bespoke advice on nutrient management based on soil tests carried out on the farm. • Soil Husbandry Visit – Practical soil management advice including digging a number of soil pits and discussing positive soil management for increased productivity and soil and water health. These visits can help support a Mid-Tier or Water Grant application and there are other topics available. If you are interested in receiving any of the CSF free advice please contact your CSFO to discuss. Local CSFO contact details: River Wye River Teme Rachel Bosanquet (south) tel: 07770 331 669 Anne Marie Jones (east of A49) 02080 261 240 Sue Buckingham (east/north) tel: 07833 095 708 Sally Powell (west of A49) 07770 645 037 Wayne Davies (west/north) tel: 01588 640 980 Don’t ignore! … the Making Tax Digital for VAT Switch Over … and Don’t Panic! Making Tax Digital (MTD) comes into effect from April 2019, affecting hundreds of rural businesses. Most VAT registered businesses will need to file their VAT returns through digital software that is MTD compliant, such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and Farmplan, Landmark, Sum-It. This is compulsory for businesses with turnover over £85,000 (check with your accountant if you are unsure whether this applies to you). The Making Tax Digital rules will apply from your first full VAT period starting on or after 1st April 2019. But if you haven’t switched over to submit MTD VAT returns yet, what steps do you need to take? 1. Sign up for HMRC's MTD for VAT • First you must sign up for MTD for VAT through GOV.UK’s website. (You will need to do this even if you have previously submitted a VAT return via compliant software before 1st April) • HMRC has a video about signing up for MTD, which shows the steps involved and the information you’ll need to have when you sign up. • You will receive an email within 72 hours to confirm the sign up is complete. 2. Connect your software to HMRC • Before you can send VAT returns, you’ll need to authorise your software. This process is initiated from the software and will look slightly different in each product. • You will need to check with the software provider to ensure the product has been upgraded to be MTD VAT compatible and confirm you are using the correct version. • Then within the software you will be required to enter your Government Gateway details and follow any steps when prompted. • Going forward the software will require re-authorisation periodically, as least every 18 months and you may need to repeat this process. NB. You can check if your chosen software is compliant with MTD for VAT here National Minimum Wage & National Living Wage rates increase on 1st April The rates below apply from 1st April 2019 Category of worker Hourly rate Aged 25 and above (national living wage rate) £8.21 Aged 21 to 24 inclusive £7.70 Aged 18 to 20 inclusive £6.15 Aged under 18 (but above compulsory school leaving age £4.35 Apprentices aged under 19 £3.90 Apprentices aged 19 and over, but in the first year of their apprenticeship £3.90 Auto Enrolment - Minimum pension contributions will increase on 6th April 2019 If you are an employer, and you have staff in an Automatic Enrolment Pension Scheme, you will need to ensure that your pension contributions are raised to the rates below. Employer minimum Staff contribution Total minimum contribution contribution th Currently, until 5 April 2019 2% 3% 5% th From 6 April 2019 onwards 3% 5% 8% AHDB Potato Planting returns The statutory planting returns to AHDB Potatoes must be made via the online portal this year. The portal is now open at https://levyportal.ahdb.org.uk It allows you to add information, stop, save and pick-up later where you left off. The levy team at AHDB will offer support to all growers who need it, by phone, or face to face in your own farm office. If you have any questions about this, please contact Jack Atkins (AHDB) on: 02476 478 602 Red Tractor Preparation for new inspection regime for Dairy and Poultry farmers Click HERE Visit the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Website Environmental Seed Offers for 2019 For advice and guidance on making wildflower meadows and diverse swards please visit the Herefordshire Meadows website www.herefordshiremeadows.org.uk If you would like to make other habitats for pollinators and birds on your farm with commercial seed mixes you can take advantage of the return of the Environmental Seed Offers for 2019 through Championing the Farmed Environment. AHDB Beef & Lamb AHDB