Moorland farmers chance to lay it on the line

Farmers in England can query, from this week, the Moorland Line on the map used to calculate their share of £1.7 billion Common Agricultural Policy payments.

In April the government changed the basis on which it will calculate the new Single Payment, which farmers in England will receive from next year. Secretary of State Margaret Beckett introduced a third region - moorland within the upland Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA), a move backed by all the main farming bodies.

The Moorland Line is the boundary that defines moorland within the English Less Favoured Areas. Because the location of moorland within the SDA will affect the value of entitlements under the new Single Payment, farmers are being offered the opportunity to ensure that moorland within their holding is correctly classified.

Mrs Beckett acknowledged that it was possible that there may be some minor inaccuracies in the location of the boundary at certain points, and decided to make arrangements to consider representations from farmers about its accuracy on their land.

>From today, 9 August, farmers can find information on the

representations process as well as a moorland map online at www.rpa.gov.uk. The map will be on view at selected offices too from Thursday 12 August.

A telephone helpline - 0845 6056516 - is open from 12 August for information packs and advice.

Representations must be received by 24 September 2004.