Review soil before harvest end

Even though combines are rolling, do not forget soil management to protect your full Single Payment.

That is the advice of leading cross compliance adviser, Dave Gardner who warns that the seasonal workload may see completion of the mandatory Soil Protection Review (SPR) being overlooked.

"The SPR was sent to all Single Payment Scheme applicants earlier this year and has to drawn up by Sep 1, 2006 by Single Payment claimants in England as part of GAEC 1. Inspectors can easily check if this has been done," he says.

Although running to 40 pages, Mr Gardner points out that filling in the SPR is easier than first glance suggests, taking less than an hour in many cases.

"The Soil Protection Review (SPR) will enable farmers to identify and address soil management problems at a 'whole farm' level by completing the templates provided which are set out using a simple tick box approach. There are three main parts to the Soil Protection Review process: identifying soil issues; deciding on actions to manage and protect soils; and reviewing success."

"Once completed, keep it on the farm. It is your working document and doesn't need to be sent to the RPA. In the event of an inspection you will be required to show an inspector your SPR, including all the annual updates that will be required from 2007 onwards. You should also update your SPR if you make any major changes to your farm, such as adding an extra field or changing your crop rotation," Mr Gardner adds. "Remember, from January 1st 2007, you must implement the measures you have identified in your SPR".