CAP reform key dates
THE NEW Single Payment Scheme (SPS), or Single Farm Payment in Scotland requires producers to be aware of many new dates in the calendar, according to Andersons.
Below are some of the key dates under the SPS and Environmental Stewardship Scheme:
| 1 Jan | SPS scheme starts – cross compliance rules apply until 31 Dec on entire holding |
| 15 Jan | Set-aside period starts |
| 31 Jan | Deadline for submission of ‘hardship‘ application forms (SP2) |
| 1 Feb | New guidance on soil management under cross compliance comes into effect |
| 1 Mar | Hedgerows must not be trimmed between now and July 31 |
| Mar | New ESS launched – Entry and Higher Level options. Application deadline likely to be in April, for agreements to start May 1. |
| End Mar/ early Apr | 2005 IACS forms (SP5) and Explanatory Guides issued to farmers |
| 15 Apr | Earliest date for using non-selective herbicides on set-aside |
| 30 Apr | Latest date on which 10-month period can start for 2005 SPS year |
| 16 May | Deadline for submission of IACS forms under SPS |
| June | Rate for converting SPS payment from Euros to Sterling likely to be set |
| 15 July | Sowing for harvest 2006 allowed on set-aside land; 2m margins come into effect |
| 15 Aug | Compulsory cut of set-aside must have been done by now |
| 31 Aug | 2005 set-aside period ends |
| Autumn | Claimants likely to be notified of their SPS entitlement allocations |
| 1 Oct | Earliest start date of 10-month period for 2006 SPS year |
| 1 Nov | First payment under ESS scheme for agreements starting on May 1 |
| 1 Dec | Earliest date for payment of SFP (through to end of June 2006) |
| 31 Dec | End of 2005 SPS year |
Source: Andersons