Rural Payments and Services

Table of Contents

• When will Basic Payment Scheme payments be made?
• When will Pillar 2 payments be made?
• Does your Get Online campaign mean that you are no longer accepting paper SAFs?
• What are the timescales for this year’s SAF application window?
• What if I miss the May 15 deadline?
• What changes are you making to your system of land change management?
• What is the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS)?
• What other changes are you making to the information on land that you hold?
• Why are you making these changes now, during the SAF 2018 window?
• Will this work affect my SAF 2018 submission?
• Why are you encouraging customers / me to complete the SAF online?

We are committed to ensuring farmers and crofters get their payments as quickly as possible while putting the payments system on a secure footing.

Most farmers have already received the majority of the money they are entitled to in Basic Payments, with only the remaining 10 per cent still to be paid.

We are introducing a new system of land change management Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which will improve the payments system.

This is a substantial task - digitising 700,000 pieces of land to an extremely high level of precision. We keep all milestones under review to ensure we deliver what's important for farmers in a sustainable and cost effective way. We intend to commence payments shortly.

Annual recurrent payments made under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme / Forestry Grant Scheme / Rural Priorities / Land Managers Options and Less-Favoured Area Support Scheme.

We are committed to ensuring farmers and crofters get their payments as quickly as possible, while putting the payments system on a secure footing and introducing the new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).

We keep all milestones under review and will keep claimants informed of any significant changes to published payment dates.

The Scottish Government will still accept paper applications and we will send a paper application to those customers who have made contact with us making clear that they still choose to apply that way.

We opened on 15 March as planned and will close the application window on 15 May as per our usual timescales.

You should do everything you can to submit your Single Application Form by May 15. Submissions will be considered up to 9 June, but claims made after 15 May will be liable to late claim reductions as in previous years.

We are introducing a new system of land change management, Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which will improve the payments system in the long term.

The new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is an online tool – part of Rural Payments and Services – that will ultimately deliver more accurate mapping, additional information, improved functionality and faster processing for transactional customers across Scotland.

We plan to roll out full new mapping functionality from summer 2018, and Agent training will take place from early summer onwards. All Agent firms will be alerted to how to book a session in the coming weeks.

We are also reviewing our aerial photography for 2014 – 2016 to ensure that it is current and accurate. This means a number of land changes have been/are being made to the maps we have online.

As we committed to in the CAP Plan for Stabilisation in September last year, we are introducing a new system of land change management – giving farmers the ability to verify their data and update it directly.

The new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) will ultimately deliver more accurate mapping, improved functionality and faster processing for transactional customers across Scotland.

Ensuring we are using the most up-to-date data will also minimise the risk of any financial corrections.

In a very small minority of cases, this may have had an effect on Single Application Forms submitted before 9 March. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will write directly to those affected with further guidance. Those in any doubt should contact their local area office for further information.

Applying online for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding provides a wide range of benefits. The digital process is straightforward, more efficient and provides access to the most up-to-date land information. The process also reduces the risk of inadvertently making application errors and incurring penalties.

We appreciate that change can sometimes be challenging. That is why we are offering farmers and crofters applying under the SAF in 2018 more support to help them make the switch to applying online. This includes refreshed online guidance and regional events this spring demonstrating how to make an online application.