Farmers betrayed by Government failure to renew agri-environment scheme
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has reacted angrily to a Welsh Government announcement that there will not be an entry-level agri-environment scheme application round in 2016, describing the decision as a betrayal of the commitments which underpinned the introduction of the Glastir scheme. Speaking at Thursday’s (February 11) Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 Start of Term […]
Farmers urged to register for BPS with just 100 days left
Although more than 22,500 farm business have registered, the NFU says it is vital that with only 100 days left that more people take time out to familiarise themselves with the new system, register and start the process of making their first BPS claim. Senior BPS adviser Richard Wordsworth said: “Working with the RPA, the […]
Thousands get ready to claim Basic Payment Scheme 2015
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is inviting thousands more farmers and landowners throughout England to take the first online step towards claiming this year’s new scheme payments. RPA CEO Mark Grimshaw, speaking at the NFU Council on Tuesday (20 January), announced a significant ramping up of the numbers invited to register on the new rural […]
More than half of agents have registered for new rural payments service
More than half of farm and agriculture agents and advisors in England have registered on to the new rural payments service as a first step to helping their clients to claim under the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) contacted around 1,200 agents last month to provide support in […]
Welsh Government refusal to allow corrections to moorland map slammed by farmers
Farmers have branded as “illogical, unobjective and unfair” the Welsh Government’s refusal to allow appeals against the incorrect categorisation of their land as moorland. In January this year, natural and food minister Alun Davies announced that payments in the moorland area would fall to around 10% of the rates payable in areas outside the moorland […]
Record-breaking reporting by tech-savvy cattle keepers
Figures from the Rural Payments Agency’s British Cattle Movement service show the bar was raised yet again in the past month with a record-breaking proportion of movements – 95.49 per cent- reported online or on the self service phone line. Almost 90 per cent of births and 70 per cent of deaths were also reported […]
