Thousands of farmers face wait until April for BPS money

Thousands of farmers in England face waiting another three months for their basic payment – and some will have to wait even longer, Farmers Weekly has learned.

Just one week remains for the Rural Payments Agency to meet its target of paying the “vast majority” of claimants by the end of January.

Defra insists the agency is on track to meet its goal but that looks increasingly unlikely, with 31,000 farmers still to be paid.

So far, 57,000 of an expected 88,000 farmers have received their money – equivalent to almost two-thirds of eligible claimants. It takes the amount paid to £779m of an expected £1.45bn – just under 54% of the total due to farmers.

See also: Farmers in England still waiting for £1bn in BPS cash

Two more payment runs are expected before the end of the month – one this weekend (22-23 January) and another on the weekend of 29 January. Further regular payment runs are expected to be made throughout February and March – and probably into April.

“Defra and its agencies must be more transparent and clear as to when they think this money will go out, rather than hiding behind a veil of confusion”
Guy Smith, NFU vice-president

A source close to the RPA said it would be “well beyond Easter” before all farmers had received their money. As many as 6,000 farmers – and possibly more – would have to wait until at least April to be paid, according to the source, who asked to remain anonymous.

NFU vice-president Guy Smith said it was impossible for farmers to run their businesses without knowing when they would be paid. “Defra and its agencies must be more transparent and clear as to when they think this money will go out, rather than hiding behind a veil of confusion.”

Lack of communication

Concern about the lack of communication has increased since it emerged RPA officials knew as long ago as last summer that 14,021 claims were likely to take longer to settle – but waited until 27 November before informing farmers (Farmers Weekly, 15 January).

Regular updates on the situation have been provided by RPA chief executive Mark Grimshaw, who has attended NFU council meetings over the past year. But Mr Grimshaw was absent from the latest council meeting this week at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

RPA external relations director Arik Dondi was expected to address farmers in Mr Grimshaw’s place. But he too was absent from the meeting. Instead the RPA issued a press release confirming it had now paid 57,000 farmers.

In the press statement, Mr Grimshaw said: “We understand the importance of BPS payments for farmers and our priority has always been to pay as many farmers as quickly as possible.”

The RPA was working seven days a week to make payments, said Mr Grimshaw. A wide range of claims had been paid to small, medium and large enterprises – and across all sectors of the industry, he said. Claims would continue to be paid as they were checked and completed.

Scotland

NFU Scotland said Scottish farmers were still facing “significant delays” receiving BPS payments. By the end of December 2015, 18% of BPS claimants had received part payment – well short of the government’s 25% target.

NFUS has called on the government to issue a new statement on the BPS timetable. Union president Allan Bowie said the government had to “get clear messages out to grassroots farmers on when delays will be resolved and when BPS monies will start flowing”.