We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.RPA attempts to reassure farmers
PRIOR to the publication of today’s (Thursday, April 29) incendiary statement revealing the farming industry had ‘lost confidence’ in it, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) addressed some of the issues causing concern among farmers.
The agency’s response to questions posed by Farmers Guardian are summarised below.
What is the latest on the mapping update?
The latest figures from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) showed 1,200 farmers had still not received corrected maps by the start of this week.
This included 860 farmers awaiting confirmatory maps as part of the Rural Land Register (RLR) mapping update, plus 90 farmers who had a physical SPS inspection and 250 who had a remote sensing inspection.
The agency said it was ‘working to send confirmatory maps to all farmers by the end of April’ (Friday).
But it acknowledged that it would be forced to send ‘interim maps’ to 550 farmers in cases where confirmed maps were not ready.
These maps, which will be printed on pale blue paper and accompanied by an explanatory note, will show farmers the latest RLR information for their land, but may not include all the changes asked for, the agency said.
“We will continue to issue confirmatory maps to these farmers in due course,” an agency spokeswoman said.
What is being done to ensure the mapping problems will not impact on SPS 2010 claims?
The spokeswoman said the agency had written to 33,000 farmers who have some pre-printed data missing in some columns of their application form ‘some weeks ago’ to advise them of the problem.
The agency insisted it had taken steps to minimise the damage, including ‘engaging with farmers’ through adverts in the trade press, FAQs on its website, opening two new drop in centres and extending the SPS application checking service at its drop in centres.
Appointments can also be booked to see an RPA representative who can show farmers how to complete their form online.
Farmers can use computers provided by RPA if they don’t have the facilities to do so at home, or are nervous of doing so on their own, the spokeswoman said.
With the May 17 SPS 2010 deadline looming, can you guarantee farmers will not be penalised for mistakes that are not their fault?
The spokeswoman said that where a farmer has an outstanding mapping query on a land parcel and estimates the entries in C2 (field reference number), C3 (total field size) and/or C4 (maximum SPS eligible area), ‘we will amend to the area shown on the RLR area without penalty, and we will not remove these lines of data from the farmer’s application’.
She added that Farmers are responsible for checking that the information on their SPS application is in accordance with the land they are claiming on.
They are also responsible for checking that all the agricultural land parcels which form part of their holding on May 17 are present on their field data sheet and if necessary, adding them under the correct holding number.
Can you guarantee you can meet your deadlines for delivering 2010 SPS payments?
The spokeswoman said the RPA was ‘focused on meeting our 2010 payment targets’.
These include paying 85 per cent of claiments by the end of December, and 95 per cent by value by the end of March 2011.
