The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is urging growers of permanent fruit and vegetable crops - including commercial orchards - and nursery crops to register for new entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).

New SPS entitlements will be available for the 2010 year, and the RPA is hoping the publication of Information Note 2 will encourage more growers to call its helpline to register their details as soon as possible. Early registration will ensure the land is mapped and field numbers allocated in advance of applicants completing their new entitlements application form, RPA said.

Information Note 2 can be found on the RPA website (www.rpa.gov.uk) by following the link to New Entitlements from the front page. It provides guidance for growers of these crops in England and is particularly useful for anyone who hasn’t applied for SPS before.

It outlines:

•the eligibility requirements for farmers who wish to apply for new entitlements;

•what constitutes eligible land;

•how the RPA will calculate the number of entitlements (including hardship and national reserve provisions);

•cross compliance requirements;

•the process to apply for new entitlements; and

•the timetable of the process.

Growers are urged to read Information Note 2, If they believe they meet the criteria they should, to call the RPA Customer Service Centre as soon as possible on 0845 603 7777 to register their interest. The customer service centre is open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

RPA is an executive agency of DEFRA and the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England. It is also responsible for administering the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).

The Single Payment Scheme was introduced in England in 2005 under the 2003 CAP reforms. Around £1.5 billion is paid out annually under the scheme to English farmers by the RPA.

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