We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Clock ticking on mapping updates
THE clock is ticking down for all farmers and growers to return their updated Rural Land Register maps to the Rural Payment Agency (RPA).
The RPA confirmed the last of the 108,000 maps had now been distributed to farmers in England for their approval.
The Agency praised the tens of thousands of farmers up-and-down the country that have already checked, edited and returned their maps within the 28 day time limit.
But it urged those that have not yet returned their maps to follow suit or risk jeopardising next year’s single payment and environmental payments.
“We are very pleased with the progress so far but we must not get complacent. If we don’t get mapping updates from farmers then we cannot pre-populate next year’s payment schemes,” said an RPA spokesman who added one fifth of farmers had returned their maps outside of the 28 day deadline.
The RPA has been sending maps to farmers on a region-by-region basis since June, but it was recently criticised for delays which caused a build up of thousands of maps.
However, this week the Agency revealed this was due in part to an EU law which dictated it had to retain 5 per cent of all farm maps while they underwent a physical or ‘remote sensing’ inspection, where farmland is checked using satellite imaging.
About 4,000 farmers who underwent remote sensing are being contacted by RPA and informed they will not receive their maps until the results of their inspection have been agreed, validated and incorporated into the rural land register.
The RPA said any other farmers who still haven’t received their maps should call the Agency immediately.
“The message is clear and simple – if you haven’t received your maps you must let us know now,” said Simon Lunnis, RLR policy manager.
Richard Wordsworth, the NFU’s single payment expert, backed the RPA urgency.
“Time ticks on. If you have got your map, send it back. If you have not received your maps, because it is lost in the post or for whatever reason, you must contact the RPA now,” he said.
