Pressure is growing on the Scottish Government to extend the May 16 deadline for farmers applying to CAP support schemes.
European agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan has agreed to allow member states to extend the application deadline by one month to June 15 and NFU Scotland (NFUS) has now confirmed it is to ask for the extra time to allow members to complete forms.
According to the union, farmers and farm consultants report that the IT application system has improved in the past 12 months, but many applicants have been unable to submit their 2016 claim as they have yet to receive the necessary updated maps for their business from Scottish Government.
A Government spokesman claimed the application process had generally performed well this year and urged farmers not to delay with making their applications. To date under 5000 online and paper forms have been submitted out of an expect4ed 20,000-21,000 applications.
The spokesman added: “We have not yet seen the detail of the proposal and we are aware that NFU Scotland (NFUS) plans to discuss the issue later this week, after which we will urgently engage with Ministers and reach a decision.”
If Government does decide to take up the option it will be the second successive year where problems around the IT system have merited an extension to the deadline. However they are not alone. A statement from the European Commission granting member states the discretion to extend the application window recognised that other national are suffering similar problems.
NFUS president, Allan Bowie said the union had hoped that the £180 million IT system installed to deliver new CAP schemes would have improved to the extent that an extension to the application window would not have been necessary.
“Successfully completing and submitting a SAF application is the primary route to Scottish farmers and crofters accessing almost £600 million in funds that are the cornerstone in supporting our food and farming sectors, our fragile rural economies and securing huge environmental benefits from our landscape.”
Mr Bowie said the union would be looking for a new Scottish Government to deliver outstanding payments to all farmers.
