DEFRA update on CAP reforms
FARMERS THROUGHOUT England will receive information in the next few days about what they need to do to claim money under the new Single Payment Scheme.
A brochure from DEFRA explains the latest developments that farmers need to know about the single farm payment.
The brochure includes an update on the 10-month rule, in particular the term “at the farmer‘s disposal” that caused some uncertainty.
To have the land at their disposal, farmers must exercise a high degree of management control over it.
The brochure explains what farmers need to do if it is not clear who is entitled to claim payments for land managed by more than one farmer.
Junior DEFRA minister Larry Whitty said: “DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency will do whatever they can to help farmers through the changes.
“We want to communicate with all those in England who may be affected by these reforms.”
The brochure contains important dates in the cross-compliance calendar and an update on measures to ensure that potential new claimants can register later in the year.
It also gives a worked example for farmers to follow, in order to help them calculate their set-aside requirement for 2005.
The new brochure will be online from midday on Thurs, Aug 26 at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/capreform/spayeng03.htm
Answers to some more frequently asked questions can also be found in the next issue of FARMERS WEEKLY which is out on Fri, Aug 27.