RPA on track to meet BPS payment targets
Nearly half of all farmers claiming Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments this year have received their money ahead of Christmas, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has announced. More than 42,000 farmers out of a total 87,095 claimants have received fully validated BPS payments, representing over 48 per cent of all eligible claims. It means the […]
NFU survey shows few BPS payments received by farmers
The latest results from a NFU survey into BPS delivery back up increasing concerns that payments have stalled and dispute RPA figures on payments issued. After an encouraging start with just over 36,000 payments made in the first eight days of the payment window, NFU survey results show less than 25 per cent of farmers […]
RPA remains on track to pay BPS 2015 claims from December
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed it is on track to start making full Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments in December and more than half of the claimants in England are set to receive their payment before the end of that month. The Financial Discipline Mechanism (FDM) deduction rate has been confirmed at 1.393041% […]
Dairy farmers set to lose nearly 3p/litre in 2015/16
Based on a survey of its clients and working closely with The Farm Consultancy Group, it forecast that farmers would lose 2.75p/litre before accounting for non-milk income. “Dairy farmers are facing challenging times with little indication that this will be changing in the near future,” said Andrew Vickery, head of rural services at Old Mill. […]
Businesses claim record allowances for investment in plant and machinery
Businesses claimed £79.7 billion in capital allowances for plant and machinery in 2013/14, the highest total since the recession and up by 19% on the £66.9 billion of capital allowances claimed the previous year. However, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions warns that the rate of investment in new equipment and machinery could start to slow as […]
NFU statement on Defra’s dual use policy for this year
The NFU has said that farmers and growers will be left frustrated after Defra announced it was not allowing dual use for mid-tier environmental stewardship scheme applicants this year. NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: “The NFU has lobbied for the continuation of dual use throughout the development of Countryside Stewardship to allow business flexibility. […]
How will the 2015 budget affect you as a farmer
David Missen, Head of the Agriculture Sector at MHA, the UK-wide association of accountancy and business advisory firms, says that farmers need to do some serious planning in response to new Annual Investment Allowances and tax arrangements on dividends unveiled in yesterday’s Budget announcement. Here’s his review of the main changes affecting the agriculture sector. Business […]
£1.3 million in new research could mean a sweeter deal for Scottish berry producers
British berry lovers could get their favourite fruits all year round thanks to three new pioneering UK government funded research projects set to revolutionise Scottish berry production, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said ahead of the Royal Highland Show. £1.3 million from the government’s £70 million Agri-Tech Catalyst has been awarded to projects led by the […]
Environment Secretary hails UK success in securing steps to make CAP simpler for farmers
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has welcomed a series of changes announced by the European Commission to make it easier for UK farmers to meet Common Agricultural Policy rules, but warned there is still more to do reduce the burdens of the current scheme. From next year farmers will now have more choice of hedgerows on […]
