BPS payment extension 'could place increased pressure on British farmers'

The European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has annoucned the deadline by when a member state can make its BPS payments without interest being applied for late payment.

The deadline can be extended to 15 October instead of 30 June due to difficulties being experienced in a number of EU member states.

The extension could place increased pressure on British farmers and in some cases be the difference of them surviving or going bust, according to property consultants Bruton Knowles.

With many farmers struggling to make ends meet, news that payments could be put back until the middle of October will bring little comfort to those who rely on these payments for things such as cash flow and investment.

With the UK also having voted to leave the EU, some farmers may now fear that delays will get even longer.

'Will not go down well with farmers'

Ben Compton from the rural team at Bruton Knowles is now advising those farmers who may not yet have received their full payment, to get in touch with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to find out the latest on their particular application.

Ben said: "This announcement will not go down well with farmers especially those still waiting on payments.

"Our advice is not to panic but to keep on top of the RPA with regard to individual applications.

"The fact that some member states are ‘having difficulties’ will vindicate why some farmers voted to leave the EU in the referendum.

"But despite the UK voting to leave the EU my feeling is this will not impact on payments in the UK over the next two years.

"In fact with the exchange rate as it is, 2016 payments due in December, will likely be up on the 2015 figure.

"We are also advising farmers who have received payments to check their claim statements carefully and to instigate an appeal as soon as possible if they feel there has been an error on the part of the RPA."