New single payment forms go out to Welsh

Welsh farmers have started receiving their first single farm payment application forms and have until May 15 to return them.

The large packages dropping into farmhouse letterboxes run to more than 100 pages.

Farming unions report few complaints from farmers about the work involved in completing the forms, possibly because they have more pre-printed data than the old range of forms for CAP schemes.

“Another reason might be that lambing currently takes priority on many Welsh farms, and the packages are being put on one side,” an FUW spokesman said.

“We will just keep reminding members to fill in the single application form before the May deadline.”

An assembly spokeswoman said forms were going out as early as possible, but any farmer who had not received one by 31 March should contact his or her divisional office.