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The Whole Farm Review Scheme 2015
21 January 2015
1. WFR Business;2. The Present Picture;3. The Year Ahead & Beyond.
(2)Today I would like to touch on the following issues:
(3) The Good News:
The Cabinet Secretary has agreed to continue funding LANTRA This will be a two year arrangement covering 2015-16 & 2016-17;
The WFRS has secured funding for 2015 with a change of grant rates;
Plus, I'll touch on the future of the Scheme a little later on...
In total 3,579 applications have received approval; 283 farm businesses took part in the pilot scheme (2003); 1,215 farm businesses approved into the main scheme (2004-08); and the 2008-2014 scheme attracted 2,071 approvals (end Dec 2014).
(4)The Present Picture:
(5) WHOLE FARM REVIEW SCHEME (Since Scheme Re-launch June 2008)
APPROVALS/REFUSALS/REJECTIONS (BY SG AREA OFFICE)
As at 31 DEC 2014
Area Office (SG)
Total
Applications Approved*
Total Applications
Approved (DEC 2014)
1st Time Applications
Approved (DEC 2014)
2nd Time Applications
Approved (DEC 2014)
Applications Refused/ Rejected
(since 2008)
Ayr 441 (92) 7 5 2 1 Dumfries 349 (80) 5 4 1 1 Elgin 45 (9) 2 2 0 Galashiels 411 (89) 7 6 1 2
Inverness 71 (6) 1
Inverurie 216 (46) 6 6 0 4
Kirkwall 21 (4)
Lerwick 6 (-)
Oban 79 (13) 2 2 0
Perth 379 (73) 9 8 1
Portree 7 (1) 1 1 0
Thurso 46 (10) 1 1 0 1
TOTAL
2071 (423*)
40
35
5
10
(* figures in brackets indicate the number of 2nd time approvals – also included in the total applications approved)
Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2nd Time Applications
1st Time Applications
Total Applications
2nd Time Applications
1st Time Applications
Total Applications
No. of Ap-plications
2014
(6) WFRS Approved 1st & 2nd Monthly Applications (DEC 2014)
April
May
June Ju
ly
Augus
t
Septe
mbe
r
Octobe
r
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
Janu
ary
Febru
ary
Mar
ch0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2425
22
45
22
2526
27
40
(7) WFRS Applications Approved between MAY 2008 - DEC 2014
2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
Don’t miss this opportunity!
The Scottish Government is offering grant support for a 3-stage review of your business with new grant rates from 1 January 2015. Additional specialist advice is also available, e.g. on environmental and climate change issues.
Stage 1 - Whole Farm Review - 80% up to £1,200 Stage 2 - Action Plan Review - 100% up to £300 Stage 3 - Additional Specialist Advice - 80% to £1,000
• Due to EU Regulation – 1500 Euros per advice max.• SG had to reduce 1st Stage & to compensate increased Stage 3• Good News is Scheme open to everyone (2nd time rule does
not apply)
(8) Whole Farm Review Scheme 2015
SG - INDEPENDENT EVALUATION in May 2014
Farmers feedback on reviews:
1. How would you rate the advisors working practices? Excellent (55%) Good (43%)
2. How would you rate the quality of the final report? Excellent (50%) Good (48%)
3. How helpful was it to have the action plan reviewed with the advisor? Very helpful (58%) helpful (42%) not helpful (0%)
(9) IN LIGHT OF THE NEW SRDP (2014-2020)
IMPACT OF "PROPOSED ACTIONS" OVER THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS PERCENTAGE Financial impact with improved profit margin 58%Better planning/decision making processes 51%
Accessing grant support 50%Improved cash flow/borrowing 46%
Reducing costs/overheads 44%Livestock/crop improvements 41%
Restructuring the business 39%More awareness of environmental issues 39%
Improved use of labour resources 33%More awareness about waste and pollution issues 33%
Taking forward diversification opportunities 30%More awareness to comply with regulations 25%
Clearer planning for retirement, succession & exit 19%More awareness of sources of advice 18%
Identification of training needs 11%More awareness climate change/energy usage 11%Greater willingness to work with other farmers 11%More awareness of health and safety issues 5%
(10) FARMERS FEEDBACK ON REVIEWS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70% "PROPOSED ACTIONS" OVER THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS
(11) FARMERS FEEDBACK ON REVIEWS
(12) Administration
• So – evaluation confirms Quality of WFR reports are getting better (spot checking by Lantra & SG);• Feedback on Advisors from farm businesses highly satisfactory;• This is Testament to advisors skills and Lantra’s running of FBAASS. however…
(13)The Year Ahead & Beyond:
• Statistics are all good & well but…• Nothing finalised at this stage, yet• 2015/16 remains likely to be final year of WFRS – at least in its current guise• From 2016 the WFRS looks likely to form part of a wider procured Advisory Services under SRDP.
(14)The Future Proposals
• Main discussions re Integrated Land Management Plans;• Delivering WFR’s through a Rural Advisory Service Hub; and• Proposals for transition with FBAASS;• Whatever guise WFRS takes – it will hopefully be here for a long time to come!
(15) And Finally…
Thank you & Good luck for the future –challenging times ahead
● I can be contacted by emailing:
or [email protected]● All up to date information & statistics can
be found on the scheme website.www.scotland.gov.uk/wfrs
