Hedge map headache for BPS applications
Farmers are being urged not to delay making their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application this year as a change to the mapping procedure is prolonging the application process.
Sarah Reece, a partner and chartered surveyor with Berrys at Shrewsbury, says some arable farm applications are taking twice as long to complete this year compared to 2017.
“The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has added a new ‘hedge layer’ to the mapping system to show the length and location of hedges on the farm and in many cases we are finding inaccuracies,” said Sarah
“Many arable farmers are using hedges as part of their Ecological Focus Area or Countryside Stewardship so these hedge maps must be checked for accuracy. This means farmers or their agents have to print off a map, make the corrections and then send off the mapping changes on paper form RLE1 to the RPA as part of the BPS application process.
“All this takes additional time for the farmer and additional time for their agent. Most applications using hedges for EFAs are taking twice as long as we have to go through all the hedgerow data with the farmer to cross check what the RPA has mapped before we can process the application putting on the cropping and the greening.”
For a small arable farm this could mean the BPS application bill rising from, for example £400 to £600. Larger arable units with more hedges and inaccurate data to process could see costs rise even further.
“This is a real blow to farmers who are already suffering the misery and cost of the late cold and wet spring,” said Sarah.
“In addition, a number of farmers still have not received full BPS 2017 payments are awaiting further payment from the RPA.
“We are also concerned that the RPA will be inundated with these RLE1 forms which will put pressure on their system, possibly causing delays to processing 2018 BPS applications,” she added.
For advice on BPS contact Sarah Reece at Berrys on 01743 267068 or email sarah.reece@berrys.uk.com
