The RPA has confirmed that by 16th May SPS deadline, they had received 30,850 claims via SPS Online compared with 16,054 in 2010. The total number of claims received in 2011 has remained at around 105,000. Further information is available on the RPA website.
The SPS 2011 CAAV Members' Feedback Questionnaire is now available for completion. You can find it if you log in, go to Members' Documents and 'Single Payment Scheme'. We would very much appreciate if you could take the time to complete this questionnaire as it greatly assists in our discussions with the RPA and DEFRA regarding 2012 SPS as well as longer term plans. The close date for responses is Friday 10th June.
Following the Scottish Government elections, Richard Lochhead has been re-appointed to the rural affairs brief as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.
The final report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force, led by Richard Macdonald, was published today. Further information and a copy of the report are available in the CAAV Members Documents section.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced his new Cabinet which sees Alun Davies appointed as Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes and John Griffiths as Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Further details of the new Cabinet is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.
Following the recent National Assembly 2011 election in Wales and the confirmation by Labour that it will govern alone having gained 30 of the 60 Assembly seats, Carwyn Jones has been appointed First Minister of Wales. He should be announcing his Cabinet shortly which will see a new Rural Affairs Minister, the role having formerly been fulfilled by Elin Jones. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website....
The RPA has paid 95% of farmers who claimed the Uplands Transitional Payment (UTP) for the first time on the 2010 SP5 form. UTP was introduced last year as a result of the end of the Hill Farm Allowance and the introduction of Uplands Entry Level Stewardship. Further information is available on the RPA website.
The farming press reports that animal health officials are investigating a TB outbreak in a closed dairy herd near Penrith, in a part of Cumbria previously largely unaffected by the disease.
It seems that the Badger Trust is preparing for further legal proceedings against the Welsh Assembly Government in relation to the recently approved Order which would allow the culling of badgers in the Intensive Action Area (IAA). The Trust has formally written to the Welsh Assembly Government setting out why they believe the Order should be revoked. The letter can be viewed on the Badger Trust website....
With effect from 1st April, Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency have merged to form the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). Further information is available on the Animal Health website.
The Soil Association has published its 2011 Organic Market Report which has shown a 5.9% drop in the sales of organic products in 2010. The area of land managed organically hasalso decreased to 739,709 hectares (0.6% decrease) and the number of organic producers fell to 7,567 (4.2% decrease). Further information is available on the Soil Association website...
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has today made a statement to Parliament to confirm that manual 2010 SPS payments will be made to over 2000 farmers over the next couple of months where it would not have been possible to make a system payment by the close of the payment window on 30th June 2011. The Minister's statement can be viewed by clicking here.
Welsh Assembly Government Members yesterday voted in support of the badger cull in Intensive Action Area (IAA) under the Badger (Control Area) (Wales) Order 2011. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.
Fuel duty will be cut by 1p per litre from 6pm tonight and this year's proposed increase in fuel duty is delayed until 2012.
The Chancellor has announced that the limit for Entrepreneurs' Relief will be increased to £10 million (from £5 million). More details to follow soon.
The rates of Corporation Tax are to be cut by 2% this year (instead of 1% as previously announced) and a further 1% for the next 3 years, the Chancellor has announced.
The Chancellor has announced a consultation on the proposed merger of Income Tax and National Insurance.
The RPA has today made the blank RLE1 form available on their website to print off and use. Please see the RPA website for further information.
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has announced that Animal Health budgets will be devolved from 1st April 2011. The budgets have been shared on the basis of historic spending and animal numbers. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The draft model clauses covering CAP Reform issues for FBT agreements are now available on the CAAV website in a Word document for members to download and amend for their own use. The clauses are in the Members' Documents section under Professional Matters / Model Clauses and Agreements.