Single Payment Scheme – 2007 Developments

The RPA have now begun to send pre-populated forms for the 2007 Single Payment Scheme application to applicants.

All applicants should have received their packs by the beginning of April 2007 and the RPA are advising that if they are not received by 12 April 2007 the applicant should contact the RPA to seek further clarification.

It should be noted that anyone wishing to transfer entitlements in order for them to take effect for the 2007 scheme year (i.e. to take effect from the application made on 15 May 2007) should do so by midnight on 2 April 2007 if they are "without land" transfers. Where the transfers are with land (probably most likely in the case of leases) the deadline is 19 March 2007.

Andrew Bays of BCM Bays Curry McCowen, Rural Asset Management in Sutton Scotney, commented; "The RPA are to be applauded for getting these forms out in very good time. The fact that they are well before Easter will help all those who are responsible for making these applications. However, a word of caution, we have only just received these forms and it remains to be seen how accurate they are and we have already seen with the Single Payment Scheme 2006 statements that some changes which should have carried forward into 2006 have not – if the same applies with these forms then they will need detailed scrutiny. Farmers wishing to transfer entitlements should also be wary that the deadline dates are looming fast now and all have to be completed prior to Easter."