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Early findings from Rural Payments Agency (RPA) inspections have shown that smaller farms are particularly at risk. RPA is urging farmers to complete their reviews and avoid any issues as inspections continue during the summer. Farmers are reminded that the Farming Advice Service offers help on how to best to carry out the review.

The purpose of Soil Protection Review (SPR) is to prevent erosion, compaction and damage to landscape features and to maintain soil structure and organic matter. Not completing the review can lead to a 5% reduction in Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments and certain Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) payments, in accordance with European Commission rules.

RPA reports that not completing a Soil Protection Review has been the most noted breach of the Good Agricultural and Environmental (GAEC) standards under cross compliance for each of the last four years. It is also currently the most frequent failure for the 2012 inspections that have been completed. Approximately 280 farmers have either not completed a SPR at all, or made some errors doing so in the past four years.

Paul Caldwell, Operations Director at the Rural Payments Agency said: “It can be quicker and easier to go online to fill out the review. The online version will also remember your data so you only need to amend your answers in future years, making it quicker to complete your annual review and any in-year updates.”

The Farming Advice Service offers guidance on how to complete an SPR and will go through it step-by-step with farmers. Farmers who need help filling in the SPR should contact the Farming Advice Service between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday on 0845 345 1302.

The SPR can be filled in on a paper copy, electronically using the Farming Online service or via an Excel spreadsheet. Access the SPR through Farming Online via Defra’s Farm Surveys and Assessments service on Business Link at www.businesslink.gov.uk/defra-farming-online

Soil Protection Review 2010 (PB13311) and the Cross Compliance Guidance for Soil Management 2010 edition (PB 13315) are available on our website at rpa.gov.uk/crosscompliance/farmerguidance or from the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777.

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