The RPA Podcast RPA
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- Government
A series of informative podcasts to help farmers, land managers and rural communities keep up-to-date on developments at the Rural Payments Agency. Subject experts offer support and guidance, and help you navigate agricultural transition.
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The RPA Podcast - Episode 8
Item 1:
· Danielle Bragg, from the RPA Grants Service Team, runs us through all the grants available to farmers, under the Farming Investment Fund.
· The Farming Investment Fund offers funding for equipment, technology, and infrastructure that improves farm productivity and benefits the environment. This fund provides grants to farmers, foresters, and growers so that they can invest in the things they need to improve productivity and enhance the natural environment.
· The Farming Investment Fund is made up of 2 parts; for smaller grants, there is the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) while larger grants are covered by the Farming Transformation Fund. We discuss the different options available under these grants and provide guidance on how and when to apply.
Item 2:
· In our second section, we speak with Jim Bubb, owner of Shropshire Petals Farm in Newport, about how the Improving Farm Productivity grant has made his business more efficient with the addition of droid robots and other ways in which this has benefitted his business.
Item 3:
· In our last segment, we are joined by Rachael Dale, from RPA Geospatial Services, to discuss the launch of the new digital service, that allows you to edit your mapping information online.
· The recently launched Rural Land Changes service allows customers to notify RPA of mapping changes online, streamlining this process. This digital option for farmers, which will replace the RLE1 form, will reduce the length of time to action submissions from customers. The Rural Land Changes is more convenient, faster, and easier.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information. -
The RPA Podcast - Episode 7
Welcome to the seventh episode of The RPA Podcast.
In our latest episode, we dive into some of the questions and feedback we’ve received at the RPA from those applying to the 2023 offer of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
After opening to applications in August, we received a number of technical and general questions, both from farmers in the process of applying and those considering doing so. Speaking to our expert in the RPA Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Delivery team, Stephen Veasey, we get the answers to the most frequently asked questions RPA has received.
Stephen will be discussing the benefits of applying, looking into how the scheme has been created to allow all farmers to tailor to the needs of their land and actions that can be taken before applying, to streamline the application process. We will also discuss the number of accepted applications and offers in the pipeline. This figure was correct at time of recording but will increase over the coming weeks.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information. -
The RPA Podcast - Episode 6
Welcome to the sixth episode of The RPA Podcast.
In our latest episode, Ali Johnson, RPA’s Engagement and Operational Readiness Director, discusses the 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive and highlights the greater flexibility available in SFI23. We also discuss the roll out date, application process and transition from other schemes.
Later in the episode, Anne-Marie Rafter, from RPA’s Geospatial Services, talks us through how to update land details and why it is essential to do so as soon as possible, to ensure there are no delays to receiving agri-environmental grants. We also discuss how the process of updating land data has been simplified and how it will soon be possible to amend land details online.
Finally, we hear from Helen, from New Hall Farm in South Yorkshire, about her educational farm visits and their benefits, along with how her recommendations helped to improve the Farm Visit Declaration Form, which is completed by agreement holders before and during each visit.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpaySign up for our blog at blog.gov.ukFacebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgencyYouTube: Rural Payments AgencyBy following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information. -
The RPA Podcast - Episode 5
Welcome to the fifth episode of The RPA Podcast.
In our latest episode, the RPA’s Chief Executive, Paul Caldwell, speaks to Andrew Hawnt, from the RPA’s Internal Communications team, about his reflections of 2022 and ambitions for the year ahead.
Faye Slade, from the RPA’s Countryside Stewardship Agricultural Transition team, talks us through the recent Countryside Stewardship updates and gives us the latest information. This includes January’s Capital Payments announcements and the opening of the Higher Tier application window in February.
We also take some time to reflect on the recent Environmental Land Management schemes announcements, including the extra Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme standards that will become available this summer. Alex Hills, Sustainable Farming Incentive Pilot Delivery Manager at the RPA, discusses the announcement at the end of January and how it provided clarity about what more will be available this year and beyond.
Later in the episode we hear from Andy Powley, Defra’s policy lead for resilience, about how the Future Farming Resilience Fund is providing free business support to farmers and land managers during agricultural transition.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information. -
The RPA Podcast - Episode 4
Welcome to the fourth episode of The RPA Podcast.
In our latest episode, Richard Anderson, who leads the Field Officer teams at the RPA, talks about the RPA’s more collaborative approach to inspections and visits, and the improvements we can expect to see in the coming months. Richard highlights how his team will support farmers by offering greater levels of advice, guidance and signposting to help improve compliance with standards and scheme requirements.
We also take some time to understand the RPA’s geospatial mapping process. Rachael Dale, Head of Geospatial Services at the RPA, discusses the exciting changes that the RPA hopes will transform the mapping experience for farmers.
As we approach December’s Basic Payments Scheme payments window, we discuss BPS progressive reductions with Kenny McLoughlin, BPS and CS Claims Product Lead at the RPA. Kenny guides us through December’s BPS payments window and explains how the combination of progressive reductions and advance payments will impact this year’s window.
Later in the episode we hear from farming ambassador and RPA colleague, Norma Boyes MBE, as she reflects on how farming has changed, and continues to change, for women in agricultural roles and communities, as we mark October’s International Day of Rural Women.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information. -
The RPA Podcast - Episode 3
Welcome to the third episode of The RPA Podcast.
In our latest episode, Daneka Rodgers, Senior Business Analyst at the RPA, explains why it’s crucial to keep your personal information up to date in the Rural Payments Service and offers some great tips on how to update your details. Daneka also talks us through the importance of ‘setting permissions’ in the Rural Payments Service, and highlights what this means for your business.
We’re in the peak season for agricultural shows, so we also explore the RPA’s shows and events schedule with Senior Stakeholder Manager & Shows and Events Lead, Katie Yon. Katie discusses why attending shows is such an important part of the RPA’s programme.
Later in the podcast Sandy Kapila, the RPA’s Customer Director, provides a roundup of the very latest information and updates, and answers some of your questions.
The RPA Podcast is an opportunity to engage with farmers and land managers in a new way, and we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions of particular topics that you’d like us to cover with our subject experts. You can e-mail us at External.Affairs@rpa.gov.uk.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates and information on the following accounts.
Follow us on Twitter @ruralpay Sign up for our blog at blog.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/RuralPaymentsAgency YouTube: Rural Payments Agency By following and subscribing to our social channels and blog, you’ll be able to see the latest updates about important information.