RURAL NETWORK NI NEWS

Funding-a-stronger-supply-chain

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Minister was speaking as she visited County Tyrone businesses Cloughbane Farm Foods and Loughshore Vegetable Limited to see the investments that both companies have undertaken with the help of assistance from the Processing & Marketing Grant Scheme (PMG).

Under the PMG Scheme financial support, up to £0.5million, can be provided for capital investment in buildings and plant and equipment for business working in the agri food processing sector.

Originally a family farm, Cloughbane Farm Foods diversified by opening a farm shop in 2003 which has now grown into supplying raw meat and cooked readymade meals to the local retail sector and the retail multiples. As the business has grown they have applied and been successful in getting PMG funding in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

The Minister said: “The aim of the PMG Scheme is to help the processing sector to develop and remain competitive in the market place. The funding to Cloughbane is an excellent example of how my Department can work with companies through their phased growth. This growth has had a positive impact on the local farming and producer network who are now supplying more raw produce to Cloughbane for processing.”

At Loughshore Vegetable Ltd, located in Derrylaughan, the Minister was able to see how the assistance provided under the PMG Scheme helped a local vegetable company invest almost £1million in the construction of a new purpose built factory together with new plant and equipment.

Speaking after a tour of the premises the Minister said: “This is a further example of a company building on success and I am encouraged to see how, with the help of PMG, Loughshore Vegetables have been able to expand the factory floor area and introduce new machinery that will improve efficiency and provide the capacity to increase sales.

“The continued growth of this business is also positive news for local vegetable producers because as the company’s sales grow, they require more raw product, so it is a win-win situation for both producer and processor.”

The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). DARD works in partnership with Invest NI in the delivery of the PMG Scheme. The PMG Scheme is open for applications until 24 February 2012.

VAT-and-DARD-Online-Services-Drop-in-Sessions

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

HMRC and DARD have been at the forefront of offering online services and are encouraging farmers to fill in their animal registrations and Single Farm Payment applications online and do VAT returns online.

HMRC will from 01 April 2012 require all businesses filing VAT returns to do so online, and to pay any VAT due electronically.

To help farm businesses comply with this requirement and encourage use of all online services, DARD and HMRC, with help from the Ulster Farmers Union, have put together a series of awareness events to highlight the benefits of doing business with government online and allow farmers to sign up for online services and understand what they need to do to get online.

All businesses will receive a letter from HMRC in early February highlighting what they need to do to get online.

This letter highlights the 5 known facts that you need to sign up to HMRC’s VAT Online services, following which you will be able to file your VAT return online

The known facts are:

The date your business first registered for VAT (this will be shown in the letter you will receive from HMRC in February)
Your VAT registration number
Your business address postcode
The final month of the last VAT return you submitted
The figure in Box 5 of the last VAT return you submitted (the amount you reclaimed or had to pay)

Come to one of the venues, between 6.30 and 9.30 pm on the date shown and a specialist adviser from CAFRE and HMRC will be there to show you how to register for Online Services and complete a VAT Return online.

IMPORTANT: You won’t be able to sign up to VAT Online services UNLESS you bring the five pieces of information above with you to your event. DON’T FORGET!

Download the dates and venues of the DROP-IN SESSIONS.

Farmers-urged-to-create-new-woodlands

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Minister was speaking after a visit to woodland belonging to Mr Robert Chesney, near Toomebridge, County Antrim, which received support from the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013.

Minister O’Neill said: “Woodlands play an important role in helping us meet many of society’s challenges and priorities, including provision of social and recreational benefits, maintaining and enhancing biodiversity, responding to climate change, as well as producing fuel wood or timber for construction. However, our countryside is one of the least wooded areas in Europe and we are keen to address this. The Forestry Strategy aims to double woodland cover and this project highlights the good work being undertaken by farmers in support of this goal.

“Every farmer can play a part in increasing woodland cover by looking for opportunities to create new woodland that integrate with and complement their farm businesses. On-farm benefits of woodland include shelter for stock, crops and buildings, reduced run-off, provision of fuel wood and timber, as well as an increased variety of wildlife. Here, on Mr Chesney’s farm in County Antrim, we see how new woodland and farming can continue side by side.”

Mr Chesney has created just over 10 hectares woodland, of which half is predominantly native broadleaf species of ash and oak and the remainder is Sitka spruce, a conifer favoured for timber production. He has been assisted in this work by Premier Woodlands Ltd, one of a number of forest management companies operating in the north of Ireland.

DARD provides support for the establishment of woodland through the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. The Woodland Grant Scheme pays £2,400 per hectare for broadleaved woodland and £1,600 per hectare for conifer woodland. For new farmer applicants and farmer applicants under the current Farm Woodland Premium Scheme open since January 2007, annual payment rates range from £60 up to £290 per hectare (or £117 per acre) per year and compare favourably with current conacre rates for grassland. They depend on the category of land to be planted and whether it is inside or outside the Less Favoured Areas (LFA), so check first before applying. In addition, those claiming Single Farm Payment (SFP) in 2008, can now also plant their land and continue to claim SFP in addition to their annual Farm Woodland Premium Scheme forestry payments.

In conclusion, the Minister added: “Schemes such as the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme offer support to farmers and landowners to create new woodland, which can benefit the farm as well as wider society. I would encourage any farmers to seriously consider planting new woodland which integrates with their farm business. It is only through joint effort that we can succeed in increasing our woodland cover.”

Further information on forestry grant schemes and how to apply are available on the RDP website.

Nature-Tourism-Cooperation-Offer

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The project seeks to promote, both nationally and internationally, the participating regions as a national reference in the field of Nature Tourism. The project will seek to promote existing facilities and create new ones in line with the needs of the market.

Partners engaged to date include 3 LAGs from Portugal and 1 LAG from Spain.

More information including description, objectives and results and contact details for further information are available to download from the following FLYER.

Give-Your-View-on-Supporting-Families-Programme

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Big Lottery Fund wants people across Northern Ireland to tell them what they think of proposals for a new programme to support local families.

The biggest National Lottery good cause distributor is proposing to develop Supporting Families – a programme to improve the lives of families, with children under 12, in Northern Ireland who are facing a range of challenges such as poverty, physical and mental abuse, alcohol and substance misuse, homelessness, isolation and physical and mental ill health.

The Big Lottery Fund has launched an online survey, available at http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland/about-ni/big_proposals_ni.htm, where people can have their say on the proposals for the new programme.

The survey will give people the opportunity to have their say on questions such as:

What are the issues affecting families in Northern Ireland?
How can the Big Lottery Fund ensure the projects we fund involve families?
How can the Big Lottery Fund add value to existing work supporting families?

Previous feedback has helped develop the proposals for the Supporting Families programme which is likely to be open in late 2012 and be valued at £15 million.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair, said: “We want to know what people think of our Supporting Families programme proposals and how we can best meet the needs of communities in Northern Ireland through this programme.

“I would urge people to have their say on the proposals over the coming months by taking part in our online survey and helping us develop and deliver a programme that will make a real and lasting difference to the lives of families in Northern Ireland.”

You can have your say on the proposals for the Supporting Families programme, which is open until 4th May 2012, by taking part in an online survey available at: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland/about-ni/big_proposals_ni.htm

Further information:
Contact Andrew Kennedy, Big Lottery Fund NI Press Office: 9055 1426
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Campaign-celebrates-50th-Anniversary-of-CAP

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The year-long CAP@50 campaign includes an INTERACTIVE WEBSITE and a series of events in Brussels and the Member States.

Landmark-event-to-help-NIs-rural-community-enterprises--

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Local organisation, Ballgally Community Development Association, near Larne, is attending the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS national conference - a landmark event in Birmingham that will help rural communities in the UK save vital services and reverse the trend of rural decline. The free-to-attend event - taking place on Monday 27th February - is open to anyone in Northern Ireland with an interest in rural communities and community enterprise.

The event will draw on the widest range of experts from across the whole of the UK’s rural and social enterprise sectors to give communities the support they need to rejuvenate their villages by setting up community enterprises – from shops and pubs to local food and transport projects. Ballgally Community Development Association, which has used a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to revive their rural village by building a shop and community hall in the high street, will be on hand at the event to offer advice and information to everyone in attendance. They will be joined by specialists from across the UK, including the East Down Rural Community Network, and business, funding experts, planning, and marketing professionals. Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “This is a challenging but exciting time for rural communities. Although facing new challenges, they are increasingly turning to themselves to address the issues they face, and this landmark Village SOS event will give Northern Ireland communities the tools and inspiration to go about tackling these issues themselves by setting up new enterprises in their communities.

Big Lottery Fund UK Chair, Peter Ainsworth, will be joined by leaders of the sector at the event, including representatives from the Plunkett Foundation, Co-operative, Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and Locality, all of whom are partners on the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS programme which provides the most comprehensive support ever available to communities setting up community enterprises across the UK. Peter Ainsworth, who will be chairing on the day, said: “Every year hundreds of local amenities such as shops and pubs close down in rural areas. The effects of this, along with limited transport options, rural isolation and lack of employment opportunities for young people, can all strike at the heart of village life. “The Village SOS national conference will help people to tackle all this by bringing together support, information and expert advice on a scale never seen before.”

This free-to-attend event is the essential conference for anyone with an interest in rural communities and community enterprise. It will feature specialist workshops on topics like business planning and accessing finance, debates on issues facing rural communities and how they can be overcome, and the chance to have your say on what you need to rejuvenate your village. For more information about the Birmingham event contact the Advice Team on 0845 434 9123 or visit www.villagesos.org.uk

Farm-Future-Clinic-Launches-in-Farming-Life-

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Readers will have the opportunity to put forward a question in confidence about any aspect of their farm’s future in relation to succession planning. The first edition dealt with inheritance tax and how the Farm Family Options Mentoring Programme can help families address this issue.

The next edition of “Farm Future Clinic” will appear in the Farming Life on Saturday 18th February 2012.

If you are farming, either part-time or full-time, the Farm Family Options Mentoring Programme will help you to identify options and opportunities to address your family’s needs.

If you are considering changes to your farm business, or perhaps have concerns about adequate household income in the future, this is an opportunity to explore your options for improving profits from your farm business, and other opportunities. Support on offer includes:

Free one to one, independent and confidential support from a mentor, experienced in agriculture. (Up to 3 sessions at a time to suit you);
Help to identify potential sources of additional income;
Assistance with succession/ retirement planning through financial support for Legal or Financial advice (£ 250 per farm business);
Referral to relevant organisations/ agencies for further support.
Assistance with identifying training and development opportunities
Support to consider diversification or off farm employment opportunities
A positive Action Plan, identifying options for the way forward for both the farm business and individual farm family members

To obtain an application pack or to enquire further please telephone: 0845 026 7539, email: mentoring@countrysiderural.co.uk or visit www.countrysiderural.co.uk

Minister-meets-Countryside-AgriRural-Partnership

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In 2009 the group was awarded the contract to deliver a number of schemes under Axis 1 of the Rural Development Programme. The schemes within Axis 1 are designed to provide essential training and important capital investment to farms across the North.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: “To date over 2,700 farms have benefitted from capital investment through the Farm Modernisation Programme and the Manure Efficiency Technology Sub-programme. The training elements of Axis 1 are also helping to improve the competitiveness of farm and horticulture businesses through the provision of a range of innovative and focused training.”

The Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership is a consortium led by Countryside Services Ltd (CSL) and working together with the Rural Development Council and Ai Services.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of each of the partners that make up the Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership in delivering these schemes. Capital investment and training are key components of a successful and sustainable agricultural industry and I would encourage farmers and farm families to contact the Partnership to find out how they can benefit from these schemes.”

The overall budget for the schemes delivered by the Partnership is £27.09million. The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

New-website-highlights-Food-from-Fife

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Food from Fife website has a wide range of information including events listings, recipes and lists of places to buy and eat great local produce.

The Fife Food Network recently secured funding awards worth over £180,000 as part of a package involving Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and the European Community LEADER in Fife programme 2007-2013.

Set up under chairman Toby Anstruther, of Balcaskie, and directors Viv Collie and Jimmy Wilson, the Fife Food Network has appointed a board of management with expertise from across the whole region.
Mr Anstruther said, “Visitors will be able to create their own food trails based around places of interest all over Fife, and there are sections relating to food news, local chefs and their recipes, and food history.
“Members all have their own pages, and we have signed up some of Fife’s best known producers.”

With the formal launch of the website the Network will be embarking on a full membership drive. The National Trust for Scotland, Fife Farmers Markets, and the prestigious Old Course Hotel, Resort and Spa are all currently in the process of signing up.

The network has already been involved in the production of thousands of copies of the successful Fife Larder, and its companion Fife Larder Food Map, as part of the very first regional collaboration with the The List Guides Scotland.

Updated reprints of both publications will soon be available.
The website can be found at www.foodfromfife.co.uk
For more information and membership details e-mail info@foodfromfife.co.uk.

LeaderFest-2012-Announced

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It will take place in Levoca, Slovakia on 29 - 31 May 2012. The event features 5 workshops on the following themes:

Perspectives of green economy;
Local and regional products and services;
Rural Tourism;
Youth and the inhabitants - the active elements of the public - private partnerships; and
Your village - our village.

The final day of the event is a one day conference "Integrated approach for the application of the method Leader after year 2013".

Closing date for registration is 31st March 2012. For further information view:

Minister-Praises-Community-Heritage-Project

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Part funded by SWARD, Carntogher Community Association is working in collaboration with the Friends of Ballynahone Bog to deliver the ‘ENVISION’ project. The objective of the project is to collate and present the heritage assets of a rural community for the benefit of the local community and for the advancement of a successful rural economy in south Derry. These heritage assets include Archaeology, Built Heritage, Environment, and the Irish language.

The project will involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) to record heritage assets associated with Ballynahone National Nature Reserve and Drumnaph Woodland. This will include the creation of computerised 3D Visualisations of the evolution of how today’s landscapes have evolved through human history in Ireland.

Launching the project Minister O’Neill said: “I have a keen interest in any project which will protect and enhance our rural landscape and can contribute to sustainable rural development by utilising our past and present heritage assets. ‘ENVISION’ is an excellent example of such a project."

The Minister added: “I hope through the development of the ‘ENVISION’ project it will give the local community an opportunity to experience, enjoy, care for and protect our heritage for many years to come.”

The Carntogher Community Association was awarded £44,000 funding by Local Action Group SWARD, under a funding stream designed to create opportunities to preserve and upgrade the north of Ireland’s rural heritage and to use the natural and built environment as the basis for sustainable economic growth in rural areas.

Niall Ó Cathain, ENVISION’s project chairperson commented: “This project is very much about involving the Carntogher community. The area encompassing Carntogher mountain to the shores of Lough Neagh has evolved over the millennia; this project will emphasise how our decisions and actions can help enrich our heritage and landscape for future generations.

Cllr Trevor Wilson, SWARD JCC Chair stated: “On Behalf of SWARD, I would like to congratulate and commend all those involved in bringing this innovative project to fruition. It is a great example of the use of modern technology to preserve and promote rural heritage in the Cluster area, for the benefit of the local community both now and in the future.”

The project is a collaboration between Carntogher Community Association and The Friends of Ballynahone Bog, and is based at An Carn, Tirkane, Maghera. The project is kindly supported by SWARD, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Ulster Wildlife Trust in association with Magherafelt District Council.

For more information and to get involved / be kept informed, contact:
Pól Mac Cana, An Carn, Tír Chiana, Machaire Rátha BT46 5NH; 028 7954 9978 pol.maccana@ancarn.org

Foster-congratulates-Fivemiletown-on-export-success

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Dairy Farm International has supermarkets in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Congratulating the company, the Minister said: “Securing this contract is a significant milestone for Fivemiletown Creamery and reflects its focus on increasing export sales. It is an excellent example of a well established, forward looking company that has recognised the need to continue to add value to its services in order to remain competitive.

“Fivemiletown Creamery sells 90% of its soft cheeses outside Northern Ireland and this contract shows the importance of local companies seizing the opportunities which are available in new and developing markets.”

The Minister added: “A key thrust of Invest Northern Ireland’s recently launched Boosting Business campaign is enhanced support for local companies, both large and small, to develop opportunities in key export markets.

“I want to see more local businesses, especially small and medium sized enterprises, using the support available in order to achieve growth. By following the example shown by Fivemiletown Creamery in its commitment to innovation, product development and focus on exports, companies can continue to grow and succeed despite the current economic difficulties.”

Rural-Ireland-will-be-main-driver-for-Irish-Economy

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking in Nenagh at a Bank of Ireland Agri Seminar, the Minister referred in particular to the hundreds of indigenous food companies across the country.

Minister McEntee went on to state that the Government intends to drive a very aggressive growth agenda for the agri-food sector and to increase the value of exports from the sector to €12 billion by 2020. He recognised the ambitiousness of this target saying how he was “consistently struck and encouraged by the tremendous positivity around agriculture and the agri-food sector. There is a welcome and increasing realisation that the agri-food sector is one of those that will play a critical role in our economic recovery. We have not alone a terrific story to tell, but we have an exciting story to tell – one full of enormous potential and ambition right across the various sectors”.

The Minister also highlighted the Bank’s role in developing the Agri-food industry through investment and urged everyone present to take advantage of the opportunity to hear what services are available.

AGRIFOOD-PROCESSING--MARKETING-GRANTS-OPEN

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The agri-food processing sector is an important contributor to the Northern Ireland economy and under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) invites applications from micro through to intermediate sized enterprises seeking funding towards capital investment projects.

Who can apply? The scheme is open to those in the agri-food sector engaged in food processing activities (excluding fishery products) and to those engaged in the processing of a primary forest product or crop where the output is a renewable energy fuel.

What support is available? Financial support is available (£500,000 maximum) towards eligible capital costs that may include the erection of new buildings, refurbishment of old buildings and the purchase of new equipment. The funding available and the rate of grant will be determined by budget availability and the operating rules of the Rural Development Programme. Applications are particularly welcome from those with a project investment of less than £125,000 (approximately £50,000 financial support).

How can I apply? Further information and an application form can be obtained from www.rdpni.info or by telephoning Rural Development Division on (028) 9052 4219 or (028) 9052 4871. Alternatively, you can request an application form by sending an e-mail to afpinfo@dardni.gov.uk.

Closing Date The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on 24 February 2012.