THE SOIL Association is urging farmers who converted to organic production before 2000 to contest their single farm payment entitlements.

The organisation is encouraging organic farmers in England to respond without delay to the SFP scheme packs being sent out by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

Phil Stocker, the Soil Association‘s head of agriculture, said: “We are concerned that many organic producers who converted before the reference years of 2000-2002 will be disadvantaged.

“We are making the case to DEFRA that farmers who were organic before the reference years deserve automatic 40% increases in allocations.

“They have lower entitlements based on lower stocking rates, cropped areas and those growing unsupported crops, such as vegetables.”

Mr Stocker said the Soil Association anticipated a lot of contention surrounding historical entitlements.

It wants organic farmers who may be disadvantaged to write to the RPA saying that they want to contest their allocation.

It also wants them to write to DEFRA and their MP to raise awareness of the situation.

More information on the subject can be obtained by contacting Soil Association producer services on 0117 914 2400.