I have been involved in meetings on government schemes, dairy contracts, plus meetings with Derbyshire Police Rural Crime Team, TB and NFU Uplands North Group.
ELM capital grants
The ELM capital grants have just reopened for applications with a budget of £150 million in 2025/6. NFU experts . Once the budget is spent the scheme will close again.
Farm Equipment & Technology Fund
Nationally available, there are three grant themes to apply for individually under the FETF 2025 offer
- Improving productivity
- Managing slurry
- Improving animal health and welfare
The application window closes at midday on 10 July 2025. You can apply for each of the three themes, but you can only submit one application for each for between £1,000 and £25,000.
More details are available on the .
FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes)
This is available in the Peak District National Park, and possibly farms close to it, to help fund projects that:
- Help nature recover
- Reduce the impacts of climate change
- Protect and enhance cultural heritage
- Improve access to and enjoyment of our beautiful landscapes
More details are available on and , or you can contact the FiPL team via:
UK Shared Prosperity Fund and UK Rural England Prosperity Fund
These are available now to farm businesses in the Derbyshire Dales District Council area and may become available in South Derbyshire District Council and High Peak Borough Council areas.
Funding is available for diversification including vending machines and farm shops, but not agricultural or food processing equipment.
Further details are available from and .
Dairy contracts
Dairy farmers have been receiving new, hopefully compliant, contracts with the FDOM24 (The Fair Dealings Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024) that came into force on 9 July 2024, after more than a decade of NFU campaigning for fair and transparent contract reform.
Following a transition period of 12 months, all milk contracts will need to be compliant with the new regulations by 9 July 2025.
It is unfortunate some buyers have left it until close to the deadline to issue new contracts, so producers have felt compelled to sign. It is not too late to use the NFU’s contract checking service as there is a 21-day cooling off period after signing, although often it would be difficult to find an alternative buyer.
However, just knowing if there were areas not compliant would help in future discussions.
Call NFU CallFirst for details or speak to myself if in doubt about how to handle a contract you are nor sure about.
County activity
I’ve also been into several secondary and primary schools in Sheffield and Manchester as part of the NFU’s Farmers for Schools programme.
If you would like to become an NFU Farming Ambassador, and do a small number of visits each year, do contact me for more details.
Surveys and questionnaires
Derbyshire Dales District Council - Public Spaces Protection Order
Derbyshire Dales District Council - Public Spaces Protection Order - public consultation & invitation for Expressions of Interest
DDDC are looking to prohibited activities by a PSPO to include:-
- The lighting of fires;
- The lighting or use of stoves, barbecues and other devices using an open flame;
- The discarding of lighted matches and other things likely to cause fire;
This will apply to:-
- land to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission; and
- land which is in the open air and is:
- listed in Schedule 1 of this Order;
- access land within the meaning of Part 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000,
- restricted byway within the meaning of section 48 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000,
- cycle track, footpath or bridleway within the meaning of section 329 of the Highways Act 1980, or
- highway over which the public have a right of way for vehicular and all other kinds of traffic, but which is used by the public mainly for the purpose for which footpaths and bridleways are so used.
As part of the consultation, the District Council is also considering the inclusion of any other publicly accessible nominated land. If any landowner is interested they need to complete an Expression of Interest form
Start date
07 July 2025 at 12:00am
End date
17 August 2025 at 12:00am
Surveys and questionnaires
Derbyshire Dales District Council Business Survey 2025
Derbyshire Dales District Council’s Regeneration & Economic Development Team is keen to understand more about businesses in the Derbyshire Dales district; their growth plans, barriers to change and challenges being faced, for example finding the right premises or attracting the right workforce.
They are asking businesses to complete a short survey, which is split into 5 sections and should take up to 10 minutes (please read the T&Cs on the site before undertaking the survey)
Start date
23 July 2025 at 10:00am
Surveys and questionnaires
Call for Participants: Advancing Fairness in the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector – University of Leicester
Are you into fresh fruit and or vegetable cultivation in the UK? University of Leicester are conducting a study on advancing fairness in fresh fruit and vegetable sector and would love to hear from you!
Participation in the study involves farmers who are into the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK and who are suppliers to large retailers in the UK.
All data collected will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and anonymity based on University of Leicester's guideline and used solely for academic purposes.
Start date
23 July 2025 at 10:00am
End date
31 December 2025 at 12:00am
Surveys and questionnaires
Exploring Resilience in UK Livestock Farming
This study is being done by Michael Thupayagale from the University of Leeds. The purpose of this research study is to explore lessons learned from COVID-19 by livestock farmers and will take you approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
If you would like to take part, please visit the link (T&Cs and further information can be obtained there)
Start date
23 July 2025 at 1:00pm
End date
12 August 2025 at 12:00am
