Continuing with dates in the South East next week, the NFU’s BPS experts will be on-hand to update you on what's new and explain the changes, as the application window continues and the 15 May deadline begins to loom.
The team will talk through the BPS 2017 application process and also provide members with the latest news about remaining 2015 and 2016 payments.
Guy Smith, NFU Vice President, said: “Although things are improving from a very bad start, we know that for most members the BPS experience has been less than smooth or easy. Our survey shows 10% still feel they have unresolved issues going back to 2015, while many more are thinking of using agents.
“Our aim with both our support and our lobbying is always to make BPS as farmer friendly as possible. I'd thoroughly recommend our roadshows as a way to boost a bit of BPS self-confidence and to hear what we've been doing as we continue into the 2017 application window.”
The NFU has lobbied for its members throughout the past year on a number of key asks for farmers. This has resulted in:
- Speedier payments closer to the opening of the December 1st window
- BPS 2016 statements being issued ahead of the payment window opening
- Clearer and more frequent communication for farmers
- Enhanced entitlement statements (now online).
The meetings...
QUICK LINKS
NORTH EAST | EAST ANG | WEST MIDS | EAST MIDS | SOUTH WEST | SOUTH EAST
| Date | Region | Member registration details | Meeting details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 14 Feb | NE | Call 01904 451550 or email bm9ydGguZWFzdEBuZnUub3JnLnVr | 9am at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, Kirkley, Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0AQ |
| NE | 7pm at Scotch Corner - Holiday Inn, A66, Scotch Corner, Darlington, DL10 6NR | ||
| Wed 15 Feb | NE | 8.30am at The Bridge, Walshford, Wetherby, LS22 5HS | |
| NE | 1pm at Pickering Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering, YO18 8AA | ||
| Mon 6 Mar | EA | Call 01638 672100 or email bWVldGluZ3NlYUBuZnUub3JnLnVr | Barnham Broom Hotel, Honingham Road, Barnham Broom, Norwich NR9 4DD – Barford Suite - 1.30pm for 2pm start |
| Tue 7 Mar | EA | Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket IP14 2AJ – Gainsborough Suite – 9.30am for 10am start | |
| EA | NFU Regional Office, Willie Snaith Road, Newmarket CB8 7SN – 1.30pm for 2pm start | ||
| EA | Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3RR – Northumberland Lecture Theatre - 7pm for 7.30pm start | ||
| Wed 8 Mar | EA | Abbots Ripton Village Hall, The Green, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon – 9.30am for 10am start | |
| EA | The Farmschool, Annables Farm, Annables Lane, Harpenden AL5 3PR – 2pm for 2.30pm | ||
| Thu 9 Mar | WM | Call 01952 400500 or email d2VzdC5taWRsYW5kc0BuZnUub3JnLnVr | Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2LG - 2-4pm |
| WM | Orchard Room, The Pear Tree Country Hotel, Worcester, WR3 8SY - 7-9pm | ||
| Tue 14 Mar | WM | The Greenhous West Mids Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 2PF - 2pm to 4pm Room: President’s Pavilion | |
| WM | YFC Centre, Weston Road, Stafford, ST18 0BD - 7.30pm | ||
| Wed 15 Mar | EM | Call 01572 824250 or email ZWFzdC5taWRsYW5kc0BuZnUub3JnLnVr | Toft Country House Hotel, Bourne, PE10 0JT - 8.00am start |
| EM | Epic Centre Lincolnshire Showground - 12:30pm start | ||
| EM | Bakewell ABC – 7.30pm start | ||
| Thu 16 Mar | EM | Newark Showground – 8.15am for 8.30am start | |
| EM | Kilworth Springs Golf Club – 7.00pm for 7.30pm start | ||
| Tue 21 Mar | SW | Call 01392 440700 or email c291dGgud2VzdEBuZnUub3JnLnVr | 9am-11am Lifton Farm Shop, Lifton, Devon, PL16 0DE |
| SW | 12.30noon-2pm New Agriculture House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, TA1 2FU | ||
| SW | 7.30pm-9.30pm Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY | ||
| Wed 22 Mar | SW | 12noon-2pm The Bear Hotel, Wiltshire, Devizes, SN10 1HS | |
| SW | 6pm-8pm Gloucestershire | ||
| Wed 26 April | SE | Call 01730 711950 or email c291dGguZWFzdEBuZnUub3JnLnVr | 10:30 – 12:30 Amos Hall, Ashford Market, Monument Way, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0HB |
| SE | 3:00 – 5:00 Kleinwort Farmers’ Room, South of England Showground, Ardingly, Sussex, West Sussex RH17 6TL | ||
| Thu 27 April | SE | 10:30 – 12:30 Gilbert White Room, Sparsholt College, Westley Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, SO21 2NF | |
| SE | 3:00- 5:00 Agriculture House, Oasis Park, Stanton Harcourt Road, Eynsham, OX29 4TP |