Single Payment Scheme update

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) started making the 2011 payments to claimants on 01 December 2011.

On 21 December 2011 the Agriculture Minister Jim Paice announced that the RPA had paid 87 per cent of farmers, representing 81 per cent of the estimated value of total payments for 2011.

This was the highest ever proportion of payments made in the whole of December – and was achieved two weeks ahead of schedule. It amounted to over £1.4 billion, paid to over 91,400 farmers.

Action

• Make sure that your Soil Protection Review booklet is up-to-date and readily available in case of an inspection. In particular make sure you have completed the 2011 update section.
• A new GAEC 19 (No Spread Zones) came into effect on 01 January 2012 which concerns protecting water from pollution by fertilisers and manures. Please ensure that you are aware of the buffer zones that need to be adhered to when spreading fertiliser or manure, and that you have identified on a map the watercourses on your holding.

Forthcoming deadlines

The date for submission of the RLE1 form to transfer land and/or entitlements to be effective for the 2012 Scheme year is 02 April 2012. If you are looking to purchase entitlements or have spare entitlements to sell then please do not delay in getting in touch.

If you require any assistance with any aspect of the Single Payment Scheme then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact

Caroline Sunter BSc (Hons) MRICS, csunter@david-hill.co.uk