The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for immediate bridging payments to be provided to the more than 5,000 farmers who have yet to receive their 2018 Basic Payment.
The call follows the Rural Payment Agency’s release of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) figures which show that 93% of eligible claims were paid in December.
NFU vice president Stuart Roberts said that while this is a “welcome improvement” from 2017 figures, however, added that the Government must do more to help those who have not yet received their money.
He said: “The delivery of BPS is clearly improving, especially considering the challenges in 2018 of updated mapping and greening rule changes, but it is by no means in perfect working order.
Over 5,000 farmers and growers are still waiting for payments through no fault of their own and may not receive a penny for months.
“Timely payments are crucial for farm businesses to be able to manage their cash flow, especially after last year’s extreme weather which put extra pressure on businesses.
“For those who have yet to be paid, the government must provide immediate bridging payments to ease this pressure and we are disappointed that such financial assistance may not be provided until April.
“With regards to other BPS payment activity, we are pleased to see eligible commoners finally receiving their retrospective adjustment payments for the BPS years 2015-2017, but are still hearing reports of farmers waiting for other claim issues to be resolved that date back as far as 2015. We must see these fully resolved before the 2019 application window opens in March.”
93.4% of BPS claims representing £1.57 billion were paid in December 2018. The figure compares to 91% in December 2017.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Tim Breitmeyer said that the delayed payments were causing “significant stress and worry” for those outstanding.
“The rural economy is already facing an uncertain future in the lead up to Brexit and beyond so delayed BPS payments, alongside these other delays to agri-environment scheme payments are compounding and causing a real dent,” he said.
“We have previously called on the Treasury to make early and timely bridging payments and are disappointed these are not forthcoming.
“They should be made a planned feature of the administrative process for the remainder of BPS, and we will continue to press for them in order to put an end to the annual cycle of uncertainty on this issue.”
