1 Introduction
This Capital Grants Scheme is part of Countryside Stewardship (CS).
This Capital Grants Scheme is part of Countryside Stewardship (CS).
For 2022, there are two separate CS Capital Grants offers:
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CS Capital Grants (SFI pilot) which is only available to Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot participants on land being used for the SFI pilot
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2022 CS Capital Grants which SFI pilot participants can also apply to on land which is not being used for the SFI pilot.
This supplement to the 2022 CS Capital Grants manual, is for SFI pilot participants.
It explains what you, as an SFI pilot participant, need to do to apply for the CS Capital Grants (SFI pilot) element of Countryside Stewardship (‘the Scheme’) and any additional requirements and processes which you must follow. You must also read the 2022 CS Capital Grants manual, where indicated in this supplement as relevant.
Countryside Stewardship is administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Natural England (NE) and the Forestry Commission (FC) provides technical advice in support of the scheme.
Applications for CS Capital Grants (SFI pilot) open on 8 February 2022. You must also read the 2022 CS Capital Grants manual.
The 2022 CS Capital Grants manual will give you more information about the different elements of the scheme and how future environmental schemes are being introduced. You can read about this in the Countryside Stewardship scheme overview and Agricultural Transition sections.
A Countryside Stewardship agreement comprises of:
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the scheme Terms and Conditions
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an Agreement Document (which sets out Agreement Holder specific details)
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the supplementary documents referred to in the Agreement Document.
The Terms and Conditions refer to the mandatory elements of:
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this Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants manual (SFI pilot) supplement (referred to as the ‘supplement’) and
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the 2022 CS Capital Grants manual.
Agreement Holders must comply with these mandatory elements.
The mandatory elements of this supplement and the 2022 CS Capital Grants manual, where relevant, are:
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Section 2: How CS Capital Grants (SFI pilot) works
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Section 3: Who can apply and what land is eligible
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Section 6: Scheme requirements and procedures
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Section 7: Agreement Management.
How to avoid fraud and what to do if you suspect an attempted fraud.
Fraudsters may target farmers who receive subsidy payments and we’re aware that in the past some customers have received emails, texts and telephone calls claiming to be from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) or the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Links to a fake website designed to look like an authentic RPA or Defra online service are sometimes included in the message.
We do not send emails or text messages with links to websites asking you to confirm your personal details or payment information. We strongly advise anyone who receives such a request not to open the link and delete the item.
As fraudsters may target farmers who receive subsidy payments, remember:
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never discuss your bank account details with someone you do not know
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we will not ask you to make a payment over the phone
- delete any emails or texts you do not believe are genuine, and do not open any links – our main email addresses are:
- ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk
- rpa@notifications.service.gov.uk
- FETFEnquiries@rpa.gov.uk
- FETFClaims@rpa.gov.uk
- FTF@rpa.gov.uk
- be cautious about what information you share externally, particularly on social media.
If you suspect an attempted fraud or feel you have been the subject of fraud, you can contact:
- RPA’s Fraud Referral Team on 0800 347 347 or FraudInConfidence@rpa.gov.uk
- Action Fraud (the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime) on 0300 123 2040.