SFS Preparatory Phase Schemes – Wales
The application windows for three of the five further SFS preparatory phase schemes are now open, with the remaining two schemes opening in 2025.
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Case Studies
Cross Compliance: Winston Farm
On Thursday 12th March 2020, an annual Cross Compliance update visit was made to Steve Jones, a beef and sheep farmer in Ellesmere, Shropshire.
Overview
CXCS Representative: Clarrie Hocknell
For out on farm staff members, our day to day role is to visit farming clients across the country, and capture important data in order to update their CXCS Cross Compliance file. Each farmer has an allocated member of staff to provide continuity of service and help build up a relationship so that we can understand each business’s portfolio. Visits to the farm are important as there can be many changes to a farming business within one year.
The Visit
On Thursday 12th March 2020, an annual Cross Compliance update visit was made to Steve Jones, a beef and sheep farmer in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Steve is a client that joined CXCS after a recommendation from a local farmer and customer of CXCS.
Steve has a lot going on, on his farm, and wanted peace of mind that his paperwork is kept up to date.CXCS provide Steve and many other clients this peace of mind by updating and/or creating records for the following:
- Manure and Soil Risk Maps – at each update we collect details for any land changes for all land the client farms, including locations of temporary manure heaps
- Livestock numbers for NVZ calculations for the prior and current years
- Imports and Exports for the prior and current years
- Cropping details to make complete field records
- Confirmed fertiliser applications for the last complete harvest, and a plan for the year ahead
- Confirmed manure applications for the last complete harvest, and a plan for the year ahead
- Slurry storage and production calculations, including a map of dirty yard area to compliment the calculations
- Details of stewardship schemes to cross check compliance with this and the Basic Payment Scheme
- A yard drainage plan where applicable, showing the path of clean and dirty water, and any potential points of pollution
- Check waste exemptions to ensure all the correct exemptions have been registered for the correct farmyards
The visit provides an opportunity for farmers like Steve to ask the CXCS staff member questions, and gain all of the advice they need. It also gives us at CXCS an insight into the many different farming enterprises that there are around the country, so that we are aware and can adapt to any different situation we may face with inspectors.
By working with Steve, not only can we help him by keeping his records intact, but this then frees up valuable time for Steve and his family to work on the farm and keep moving forward with their business.
Not only is Steve an advocate of Open Farm Sunday, he is always thinking of new ideas to engage with the local public. Through this came an opportunity to grow over 8,000 pumpkins and a variety of Christmas Trees. More recently, Steve has diversified a field on the farm into three luxury holiday log cabins situated in an idyllic, private location on the canal.
After the visit, we looked at his new business venture and it was very impressive to see a thriving farm exploring new ideas. By working with Steve, not only can we help him by keeping his records intact, but this then frees up valuable time for Steve and his family to work on the farm and keep moving forward with their business.
We are always keen to put our wellies on and see what you are up to on your farm
Collaboration is key; if we can help you to push your business forward through saving you time on paperwork, and providing you with expert advice and skills, you can help us through data opportunities and intelligence gathering, to understand what else we can do to make your business future proof.
Our role is essential to help share ideas and pass on knowledge in the farming community. We are always keen to put our wellies on and see what you are up to on your farm and ensure that your records are always up to date however you choose to farm.
