Staff tackles SFP frenzy!

May 17, 2005 for the staff at H & H Bowe became one of those dates to be firmly etched in the memory, writes John Robson, managing director H&H Bowe.

Virtually every member of staff in the office for several weeks leading up to the deadline for submitting Single Farm Payment applications was involved in a frenzy of activity as something in excess of 300 applications were submitted by the office on behalf of clients. With the last envelope safely delivered to the RPA as the doors closed on Monday evening, we felt we could relax but relax only to remember the in-trays which had been growing steadily as other marginally less time critical work was put to one side.

As managing director of H & H Bowe I would like to pass on my personal thanks through these pages to all of my staff for the efforts they put into this mammoth exercise and, indeed, to our clients who have been very understanding of the pressure that the whole farming community has been under at a time of year which is busy in any case. As I am sure you are aware, the rules and guidance were changing up to the last minute, indeed, the RPA were still issuing rule changes on the final Monday, little help to those who had already submitted their applications.

We anticipate that there will be all sorts of queries raised as the RPA who are themselves under enormous strain start the mammoth task of going through the applications. We would, of course, be very happy to assist you with enquiry responses, IACS 22 plans, discussions over set aside. The list of potential queries is almost endless.

This is the true beginning of the real change in the agricultural subsidy system, it is essential that we all learn to work within it. Now would be a very good time for individual farmers to apply to the RPA for an application pack in relation to Entry Level Stewardship. This together with an up to date complete and correct digital plan, including the whole holding, woodlands etc. are the necessary prerequisites for an application.

If you need any help or advice on this front, please call Julie Liddle at the offices of H & H Bowe on 01228 640920.

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