The NFU is calling on the government to address the delays, errors and shortfalls that have plagued farm subsidy payments in recent years.
The farming body wants the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to address what it calls “severe delays in solving Basic Payment Scheme claim issues”, complaining that the complexity of the application process has caused problems with payments.
This comes as the NFU’s latest member survey on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) reports that 14 per cent of farmers said they still have outstanding payment problems from 2015 and 2016.
The survey also shows a year-on-year increase in assistance needed by claimants to complete the BPS application. Over half (55 per cent) required help in 2017.
NFU vice president Guy Smith said: “While we can see there is progress being made by the RPA, it’s clear that an unacceptably large proportion of farmers are still haunted by problems yet to be rectified.
“We are still hearing from too many members who are becoming understandably angry about delays, errors and underpayments.”
He added:“The rise in claimants seeking professional assistance with their applications is alarming. We’ve always maintained that BPS should not be beyond the average farmer – it should be an accessible system for all.
“Over half saying they needed assistance shows that cost is being loaded into the industry through lack of clarity and a perception that the process is difficult. Many members who did not have claim issues found the process straightforward.”
The research was carried out to arm the NFU in its talks with the RPA on shaping the 2018 payment scheme.
The BPS, which replaced the old Single Payment Scheme in 2015, applies throughout the EU and is the biggest of the bloc’s rural grants and payments for the farming industry.
Farmers with at least five hectares of agricultural land and five so-called ‘entitlements’ can apply.
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