Keep your mind on the job despite form delays
By Mike Abram
Arable farmers must not let single farm payment and entry level scheme delays distract them from field work, even though those hold-ups could cost thousands of pounds.
“Growers must not let agronomy slip,” stresses Strutt & Parker agronomist Mark Hall. “It”s easy to get the head down filling in SP5 forms, but growers must be very careful not to miss spraying or drilling opportunities.”
Delays in receiving correct digital maps or getting help from the Rural Payments Agency are diverting attention, he admits. But poorly timed inputs can cause far greater losses.
“The biggest gripe is how long it takes to get help. We sent an email 10 days ago and haven”t heard anything. Apparently it could take 15 days – that is just not good enough.
“It seems only fair that DEFRA either delays the deadline or omits the penalties for incorrect applications until at least June.”
Only 5% of his clients” farms have everything they need to be able to complete both sets of forms.
Mr Hall doubts the RPA will be able to finalise digital maps for what he believes are 18,000 outstanding IACS22 claims in time for growers to submit ELS claims by the initial May 31 deadline. “The RPA has said any IACS22 forms sent in before 1 March 2005 will be processed in time, but I think they will struggle.
“Any delay in getting the maps will prevent an awful lot of my clients from going straight into ELS, as they would like to.”
Missing the first round of ELS applications could cost thousands, says Cotswold grower Nick Bumford (see panel).
“At risk is at least a quarter of the payment in this first year – that”s income foregone. I won”t ever be able to get that money back again.”
Interest will also cost growers about 30p/ha for every quarter that payment is delayed, adds Mr Hall. “But it”s a more serious problem for cash-flow – particularly with the delay in the single farm payment to March or April, when usually the old payments were made in December.
“Many growers were counting on getting an ELS payment in February 2006 to help with their cash flow.”
