European Commission proposals to extend the deadline for applications to the Basic Payment Scheme by a month is potentially good news for Wales, says NFU Cymru.
Yesterday the EU Agriculture Commissioner proposed to extend the deadline for direct payment applications to Monday, 15 June, an extension to the original 15 May deadline, to recognise the difficulties that administrations across Europe are facing with the challenge of introducing the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Farmers and their advisers, including NFU Cymru staff who provide assistance during this crucial application period, are reporting that the application form is taking far longer to complete this year for the additional mapping of trees and other features as well as farmers impacted by the new greening requirements, having to register ecological focus areas for the first time.
NFU Cymru Deputy President John Davies said, “We understand that member states will be given the option to extend the deadline. We need to know the detailed plans for how the commission proposes for this to work, but given the complexity and additional work associated with this year’s Single Application form we need to seriously consider making use of the extension that the Commissioner is offering.
“Most importantly we need to get an understanding of whether an extension to the application period would impact on the ability of Welsh Government to make payments from December 2015.”
Mr Davies continued, “The Deputy Minister has previously announced that due to the complexities surrounding the implementation of the new scheme Welsh Government would be making part payments early in the payment window. We need to make sure that any extension to the deadline does not have a further detrimental impact on payment delivery.
“It is important to note that the announcement yesterday is just the first step in the process of potentially changing the deadline, nothing has changed in terms of the requirements to complete the form to be eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme and Rural Development Schemes in 2015. I would urge all farmers to continue with their plans to get the form completed at their earliest convenience.
“Whilst I welcome the Commission’s announcement on a deadline extension, in many respects, I would have been happier if the Commissioner had instead announced immediate changes to some of the complex rules surrounding the application, particularly with regards to the changes that will see productive agricultural land within woodland no longer being eligible for support from 2015.”
However Mr Davies was keen to praise the Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online application form following positive feedback from farmers and their advisers who have used the service. He said, “Despite the difficulties our members are facing in getting to grips with the new scheme and the additional time being taken to complete applications, it is clear that the online form designed by RPW, with significant input from the industry, is proving very popular and a significant simplification compared to the paper version.
“NFU Cymru will now look to work through the details of this proposal with Welsh Government, seeking to ensure that farmers are given the maximum possible time to complete the form to reduce the potential of error, but at the same time our priority must be to ensure that our members do not face delays to payments later this year.”
