The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is urging growers to register for new entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) for 2010.

The agency is hoping its publication of Information Note 2 will encourage more growers of permanent fruit and vegetable crops - including commercial orchards, nursery crops and vines to call its helpline to register their details.

Early registration will ensure the land is mapped and field numbers allocated in advance of applicants completing their new entitlements application form.

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 has not applied for SPS before.

The document 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 and the process to apply for new entitlements, as well as a timetable of the process.

Topics