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News & Info
14/04/2008
SINGLE FARM PAYMENT 2008 - Updates and information
Single Farm Payment updates for 2008
The closing date for your Single Farm Payment Scheme application is midnight 15th May 2008.
If you have not received your SP5 by now then we strongly advise you to contact the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
To make sure you are as prepared as you can be, we have outlined some key changes to 2008’s Single Payment Scheme.
The 10 month rule no longer applies from the 2008 scheme year onwards. There is now one fixed date, May 15th in the relevant scheme year, where by the claimant must have SPS land at their disposal.
For 2008 a rate of zero compulsory set-aside has been set. Although you do not need to have any land as set-aside you must still have sufficient land which is eligible for set-aside i.e. in arable rotation in 2003 not permanent pasture. If you chose to keep a proportion of your land out of agricultural production in 2008 it should be managed in accordance with GAEC 12 and not set-aside rules, unless you are required to do so under an Agri-environment Scheme Agreement.
New EU regulations have meant DEFRA can no longer make payments to you by cheque; instead all payments made after 15 October 2008 have to be made direct into the claimants’ bank account. If this is not already the case for your business a form (SP12) will be included with your application pack in order to provide your bank details.
Don’t forget to place the new Single Business Identifier (SBI) barcode label on all documents that do not appear to have a pre-printed barcode.
It goes with out saying to thoroughly check your 2008 application form (SP5) many sections will have been pre-populated but do not assume they are correct. If a line is incorrect put a cross in the ‘delete line’ box and then re-enter the correct details in the first available blank line. Do not amend the original line.
It can be very worthwhile to have your application completed and checked by experts to avoid any unnecessary delays or penalties in your application.
Please remember to sign your application.
At AKC we have extensive experience of the single farm payment scheme and related matters and provide assistance to many farming businesses. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like our assistance.
