SPS statements available from 1 December

Most claimants will be able to view their 2010 single farm payment entitlement statement online from 1 December, the Rural Payments Agency has said.

These will confirm the number and value of each claimant’s SPS 2011 entitlements. Paper copies will be sent in January to those who applied on paper forms.

Entitlements statements should be carefully checked and RPA notified in writing as soon as possible of any discrepancies or queries.

This is the final year in which there is an historic element to entitlements, which will be at 10%. The changes in payment structure meant the payment rate for a typical combinable crop farm was likely to be very slightly lower than last year, despite the better exchange rate, said Andersons’ Richard King.