Cross-border farmers ‘disadvantaged’ over single farm payments

Welsh farmers with land in England say cross-border single farm payment problems have left them at a commercial disadvantage in the crucial autumn trading period.

Basil Probert of Lower Hill, Sarn, Powys, who hosted a Farmers Union of Wales meeting last week, said he had belatedly received his full entitlement on 109ha (270 acres) in Wales and 56ha (140 acres) in England.

“But the whole system is a mess and many of my neighbours are owed money because the RPA has not processed applications on their English land,” he claimed.

George Jones of Brynmawr, Sarn, said he was owed about £4000 on the one-third of his land lying in England.

“Because I received an interim basic payment of £330, I may not be entitled to interest on what is still outstanding,” Mr Jones said.

“Nobody answers the phone at the office I am dealing with and there is no response when I leave messages.

“I had to send duplicates when all my forms were lost. I was angry, but the problem has gone on so long that I am just frustrated I may not get the money before the next payment period starts.”

Owed money

Keith Watkin of Wheatsheaf Farm, Sarn, said he was owed money on the 20% of his 141ha (350-acre) mixed unit that was in England.

He, and others at the meeting, expressed fury about the decision to pay interest at 1% above bank base rate on late payments.

“It’s a joke. I would just love to meet a bank manager who will lend money at that sort of rate,” said Mr Probert.

He said he was trying to get a separate holding number for his English land, which would also counter problems caused by the six-day standstill rule on livestock movements.

“Though I have land in six blocks in two countries, the whole area is tied up when I buy stock.”