NBA asks Scottish Government not to hold back SFP on farms where

NBA asks Scottish Government not to hold back SFP on farms where eligible land area queries are already being examined.

The National Beef Association has written to the Scottish Government asking it not to hold back SFP cheques relating to holdings where applicants have already sought local office advice on possible eligible area adjustments.

This follows warnings that farmers submitting claims which include ineligible land accounting for more than 2.47 acres, or 0.5 per cent of total land claimed, face automatic penalties on the 2010 application.

“Farmers were told in early September that all ineligible land discrepancies would be judged to be intentional, and could also result in retrospective fines covering all applications since 2007 if the Rural Payments and Inspection Directorate (RPID) discovered anomalies,” explained NBA Scotland Chairman, Hamish McBean.

“As a result some applicants are having their maps double checked for areas of scree, gorse, bracken, hard standing, tracks or ponds to make sure the area of land on which their claim is based is correct.”

“The NBA is asking the Scottish Government not to withhold payment on such claims, especially if local RPID officials need to visit the farm to check claims out, because cash flow in many beef businesses has already been traumatised by increased costs twinned with lower market income and a delayed SFP cheque could spell financial disaster.”

For more information contact:

NBA Scotland Chairman, Hamish McBean.  Tel. 01309 651 206.

Mobile: 07729 357880