Single Farm Payment

Since the Single Farm Payment inception in 2005 Laurence Gould consultants have been actively supporting clients in all matters relating to the Single Payment Scheme. This includes:

• Completion of SP5 forms
• Verification of entitlement statements and payments
• Liaison with the RPA in resolving problems
• Appeals
• Supporting documents (Cropping licences, FBT agreements)
• Transfer of entitlements (RLE1)
• Entitlement Trading
• Cross Compliance matters

If you would like to discuss an issue with your Single Farm Payment please contact your local office.

Single Farm Entitlements are currently a tradeable commodity. Value varies between England, Scotland and Wales, due to the different parameters under which the value of Single Farm Payments are established annually.

For instance, the historically established part of the Single Farm Payment is diminishing annually in England, as the proportion based on a national per acre figure rises. Meanwhile in Scotland the payment is still based entirely on the historic entitlement allocation, based on farming practice between 2000 and 2002.

It is envisaged that entitlements will remain until at least 2012 and the market value reflects the perception of likely returns from the historic element of entitlements between now and then, taking account of exchange rates and possible modulation.

Laurence Gould have been at the forefront of trading entitlements between parties, either selling entitlements for clients as they no longer require them, or are seeking to free up funds to cover capital expenditure or extra land purchases either due to expansion or for investment.

Not only do we normally have access to entitlements but we also have naked acres on which to place such an investment.

Contacts for Entitlement Trading:

Scotland:  Ian Thompson
Wales:      Geoff Brookes
England:   Charles Baines

From 2006 applicants to the Single Payment Scheme are required to follow a set of rules designed to protect the rural environment and animal health. These rules are grouped together under the term 'Cross Compliance' and include:

• Soil Management & Protection
• Maintenance of Habitats and Landscape features (SSSI, Right of Way, Overgrazing, Protection of Hedgerows and Trees)
• Statutory Management Requirements (animal identification, pollution, NVZ, pesticides and animal diseases)

Failure to adhere to these regulations can lead to penalties and the partial loss of Single Farm Payments.

Laurence Gould will review your 'compliance' and for more information please contact your local office.