G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
12 August 2021  
(21-6200) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 10 August 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United Kingdom . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures 
exempt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
 
_______________  
 
  G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme.  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
This programme will be delivered under section 98 of the Natural Environment and Rural 
Communities Act (NERC) Act, 2006.  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The aim of th e programme is to support the development of projects that will deliver for one or more 
nature, climate, people and place -based outcomes in Protected Landscapes, as part of the 
Government’s commitments in the 25 -year Environment Plan, Net Zero and 30x30. T he territorial 
extent of this programme is England only.  
This three -year programme is designed to deliver support for conservation, recreation and to 
enhance natural beauty in protected landscapes across England. Applications will be competitive, 
based on a set of consistent criteria, and assessed by regional Local Assessment Panels to be held 
regularly during the application window.  
The programme is classified as Green Box according to the criteria in paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture  (AoA), this is a government funded programme that does not provide 
production or price support. This support aligns with the specific criteria in Annex 2 as follows:  
• Paragraph 2, "General Services ": Projects funded could be classified under any of the 
points in a -g of paragraph 2. Examples of this could include: business training focussed on 
diversification towards sustainable activities and products, or training to develop processing 
facilities.  
• Paragraph 6, and 11, "Decoupled income support " and "Structural adjustment 
assistance provided through investment aids ": The programme will only be eligible to farmers 
and land managers in Protected Landscapes. The criteria has no link to production volumes or 
types. Support will be time bound running from 20 21 to 2024, no funding will be provided 
beyond this date. Examples relevant to this paragraph include farmer training programmes to 
deliver natural capital valuations or infrastructure support for biomass fuel creation from 
heathland management.  
• Paragra ph 12, "Payments under environmental programmes ": payment rates for this 
programme will be the same as current rates used by Countryside Stewardship which have 
previously been notified as Green Box activity. Projects eligible under this category could 
include: wetland creation for water storage and habitat improvement, or replacing lighting to 
provide dark skies for nocturnal species.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The cost of the measure is expected to be GBP 22.5 million for year one, years two and three are 
projec ted to have a similar annual cost. Payments will be notified in forthcoming DS:1 notifications.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
1 June 2021.  G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
- 3 - 
 
  (6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
The programme is expected to conclude by June 2024.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
The support is not specific to an agricultural product.  
  G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
- 4 - 
 
  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Annual Defra Grant to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs 2021/22.  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WIT H REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
This is a small grant of  GBP 30,000 that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
(Defra) provides annually to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) in England to 
support training and development, pol icy engagement, and in activities with young farmers across 
England. The territorial application of this scheme is England -only.  
This grant to NFYFC is classified as Green Box according to the criteria in paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of 
the Agreement on Agricul ture (AoA). The programme of activities funded by this grant falls under 
the policy specific criteria listed under Annex 2 paragraph 2 "General Services " including (a) 
research, (c) training services (d) extension and advisory services. There are no direct payments to 
producers or processors and the grant therefore meets the relevant policy -specific criteria under 
Annex 2.  
The grant funding will be used t o deliver the following activities during 2021/22.  
1. Building future business skills: A survey and knowledge exchange programme to raise 
awareness of the new business skills needed by the next generation of farmers to thrive in 
the new policy and trading en vironment and the production of a ‘fit for the future’ business 
advice guide. Expected outcomes are improved awareness and skills amongst young farmers 
of how to adapt their business plans to thrive in a new policy and trading environment post 
EU Exit.  
2. Defra/NFYFC engagement sessions: workshop sessions on some of Defra’s key future farming 
policies and schemes for young farmers across all regions of the country to help shape Defra’s 
policy and scheme development including: new entrants funding scheme, regu lation, 
compliance and enforcement, future farming advice and guidance and the Farming Investment 
Fund. Expected outcomes are improved policy and scheme development that meets the needs 
of our future farmers.  
3. Research survey: a survey of NFYFC 's wide memb ership to gather in feedback, views and 
insights from young and next generation farmers on the direction of travel for our domestic 
agriculture, land use and rural policy to help keep Defra in touch with the views of young 
people in the countryside and inf orm policy development.  
4. Agriculture and Rural Issues conference 21/22: this conference will provide an opportunity for 
young farmers to debate national policy and have a positive influence on the rural and 
agricultural agenda. It will also aim to raise aw areness amongst NFYFC members of Defra’s 
objectives and work in delivering environmental and land management policy, reducing 
climate change impacts and improving farming productivity.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
Annual grant of GBP 30,000.  G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
- 5 - 
 
  (5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
5 April 2021.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
5 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
The support is not specific to an agricultural product.  
  G/AG/N/GBR/5  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Future Farming and Countryside Programme Tree Health Pilot.  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Agriculture Act  2020.  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The aim of this pilot is to protect trees and woodlands from threats of pest and disease, and to 
support woodland management to restock trees that have been felled as part of managing p est and 
disease burdens. This pilot has a regional focus within England and will only be available to woodland 
managers in those specific regions which are: London, South  East England, West Midlands and North 
West England. It will consist of 100  agreements  and will be delivered by the Forestry Commission 
on behalf of the UK  Government.  
Grants will be awarded based on a percentage of standard costs, or a percentage of actual costs. No 
aid will be provided as compensation for loss of timber value. Eligibilit y for payments will be restricted 
to specific criteria, notably the presence of specific tree pests and diseases.  
The pilot is classified as Green Box according to the criteria in paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). The support i n question will not have the effect of providing price 
support to producers. Payments are consistent with the criteria listed in paragraph 12 of Annex 2 of 
the AoA, "Payments under environmental programmes" (a) specific conditions related to production 
methods and inputs, and (b) limited to extra costs and income foregone. Payments will only be 
awarded to applicants who meet the eligibility and scheme criteria set out in the Tree Health pilot 
scheme guidance.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total cost of this measure is GBP 3.29 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
From August 2021.  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
The scheme will open for applications in August 2021 and schemes will be taken forward from 
October 2021. The final payments will be made in 2024/2025, with the scheme set to conclude in 
2025.  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
The support is not specific to an agricultural product.  
 
__________