£5 million of funding is now available under the latest phase of European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-agri) grants. The grants can be used to boost productivity in the livestock, arable, horticultural and forestry sectors and create ground-breaking new technology – unlocking innovation in the farming industry.  The grants worth between £5,000 and £150,000 will be available for projects for up to three years to encourage new farming techniques, as well as improve the sustainability of the farming and forestry sectors. Commenting on the scheme Farming Minister George Eustice said: “This fund will enable groups to come together to test and implement exciting new ideas to solve problems and increase farm and forest productivity. By looking to other sectors, such as medicine, for inspiration and knowledge transfer, it facilitates even greater innovation. I look forward to seeing the interesting work that will follow to boost and protect rural productivity.”

Over 30,000 completed Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications have now been received by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) – but with 3 weeks remaining farmers are urged to submit their BPS 2015 applications as soon as possible.

Any farmer who has not received their BP5 application form should contact the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301. If an agent has permission to act on their behalf farmers should check if forms have been sent to them first.

On a related note for those who have been pondering the new regime being introduced around LEADER have a look here for evidence of very different more locally focused approaches in other parts of Europe.

Defra secretary Liz Truss has questions to answer over the failure of the government’s £154m computer system for farm subsidy payments, says an influential committee of MPs.

Ms Truss and Rural Payments Agency chief executive Mark Grimshaw have both been summoned to appear before the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

They will give evidence to the committee on Wednesday (25 March).

The agency announced last week that its IT system – which took two years to develop – was incapable of receiving farmers’ claims for the new Basic Payment System.

Farmers are now being asked to go back to pen and paper to complete their applications, although they are still being asked to register online for payments.

The U-turn follows months of warnings from farm leaders about the capability of the system to manage complex information – including mapping land.

Brussels has given farmers an extra month to complete their claims by extending the deadline for applications from 15 May to 15 June.

If claims are made on time, the government insists it will still be able to make subsidy payments to farmers after the six-month window opens in December 2015.

Leader is not just about economic growth. It builds community capacity. This funny little story in its own way showcases that. It also helps me reflect on what a good programme the folks in East Cornwall Leader, who I have interviewed are running. It demonstrates that whist rural development is a serious business, through the Leader approach you can still have a few laughs along the way. It tells us:

THE opening of Camelford’s new community launderette on Friday was a real knockout – literally.

The Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton and the Reverend Steve Wild, chairman of the Cornwall Methodist District, cut the ribbon to open the much-needed facility which has been funded by £53,000 from the East Cornwall Local Action Group and grants from other organisations.

However, as they performed the official opening a gust of wind dislodged the Action Group’s sign and banner and it came crashing down on the head of Mr Wild.

“Luckily it was quite light and there was no damage to the minister’s head. In fact he doubled up with laughter,” said one of the guests.