UPDATE - What we learned from today's meeting
Claimants with straightforward cases (including those whose circumstances haven't changed from their 2014 SPS claim and thereby should have no greening requirement this year) are going to be emailed from next week to confirm whether their claim is still straightforward.
Claimants who have to fulfil greening requirements will be emailed pre-populated forms between 13th and 23rd April. They will also receive a document on 'How to Fill in your Form' in the post in the same period.
Guy Smith said: “The NFU remains firmly of the view that farmers should not be penalised for the current difficulties and that both the RPA and Defra should remain fully focused on making payments in December by putting the necessary resource in place when needed.
"We will continue to press for that.
"However, in forward planning and budgeting farmers should be very aware that this December payment date is by no means certain.”
NFU Vice President Guy Smith has had a high-level meeting with RPA directors this afternoon.
He made sure your questions about this year’s application process were heard at the highest levels, following the U-turn away from the ‘online only’ system in March.
Mr Smith said that those applying must be supported through the new system as detailed knowledge of BPS is still low for many and recent changes to greening rules still need to be understood. The NFU wants our members to make correct claims, so support from the RPA is vital now.
Despite discussion of an extension of the deadline, the NFU is encouraging members to work towards completing applications by May 15, to help ensure prompt payment.
Among the points Mr Smithraised are:
- Provision of suitable guidance on ‘How to Apply’,
- That the correct data is included on pre-populated forms,
- Clarification of BPS deadlines and the impact of changes to BPS application process on Pillar 2 claims (particularly claims for members with Entry Level or Higher Level Stewardship agreements)
- Guidance on mapping of commons,
- Confirmation of entitlement transfers,
- Clarity of the rules and FAQs (we have raised more than 50 questions with the RPA in the last two weeks on BPS rules -- we need answers to these questions. See our NFU BPS FAQs
- Outstanding policy issues. In particular, we still await information on the status of long-term grass margins in arable fields. We ask that they remain arable, even if they have been in situ for more than five years.
Getting help during Easter
The RPA has confirmed that its helpline will be available over Easter on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday, between 8am and 4pm. It will be closed on Easter Sunday. The phone number is 03000 200 301.
NFUCallfirst is available today and will reopen at 8am on Tuesday April 7.
The next BPS update from the NFUonline will be on Tuesday April 7.