SAF deadline approaches while EU date is moved

Farmers and crofters in Orkney are being urged by the Scottish Government to get their Single Application Forms (SAF) and beef efficiency Scheme (BES) applications in as soon as possible.

The deadline for submitting these being midnight on Wednesday June 15

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government’s own deadline for making sure farmers receive their direct payments has been extended from June 30 to October 15.

This extension applies to all the EU member states.

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Developments, Phil Hogan, has said the extension is an “exceptional measure which reflects the difficulties that some paying agencies have experiences with the first year of payments that some paying agencies have experienced with the first year of payments under the new CAP.”

If a member state does make the payments by the deadline, fines could be imposed.

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said: “It is a relief that the threat of fines has been lifted but farmers will be concerned that results in the Scottish Government taking its foot off the gas. This cannot be allowed to happen.”

Chief Executive of the National Farmers Union in Scotland (NFUS), Scott Walker has said, while the shift in European deadline and the avoidance of a fine is good news for the Scottish taxpayer, it must not be “used as an excuse by the Scottish Government in delaying the payment of outstanding 2015 monies any further or hold back progress with the 2016 scheme.”

BES claims can be made here.