Rule change to counter ELS map delays

THE RURAL Development Service has revealed a major change to rules on Entry Level Stewardship Scheme applications, in a bid to boost the number of forms being submitted.

The RDS this week urged farmers to submit ELS applications now, pointing out that any land not yet on the Rural Land Register can be added later, or submitted on a separate application (see below).

The RDS said farmers were delaying submission of their ELS applications, as they were “under the impression” that all RLR issues had to be dealt with first.

But it said producers did not need to wait, if the majority of their land was mapped correctly. “In delaying their application, farmers are effectively missing out on ELS payments on the majority of their land which appears accurately on the RLR,” it said.

Peter Kendall, deputy president of the NFU, said it was good news that the RDS had finally agreed to double applications.
“Anything that allows people to access the ELS has got to be good news. This is a major change and something we have pushed for.”

But he added: “I do wonder what this is this going to cost in administration? It is astonishing how much bureaucracy a simple scheme is producing.”

George Chichester, partner in charge of the management department at Strutt & Parker’s Newbury office, said the development was a concession.

But he objected to the RDS’s press release which “reminded” farmers they could submit two applications or add land parcels to an agreement, rather than making it clear that this was a new announcement.

Mr Chichester said the scheme handbook made it clear that farmers were only meant to make one application, and that application was meant to include all land to be entered into the ELS.

“What they are telling us here is new information,” he insisted.

Harry Baines, a Midlands-based surveyor with Carter Jonas, agreed and said it felt like the RDS was trying to blame farmers for not submitting applications, but producers hadn’t known they could.

He added that allowing farmers to make two applications could actually cause problems. “I think it will prove to be a disaster both for the RDS and the farmers doing it,” he said.

“The scheme is already an administrative nightmare and I think this could make the whole thing mind-boggling.”