Having surveyed a small number of its members, the NFU has suggested that farm payments are running behind schedule in this first year of the BPS scheme.  

An NFU survey of NFU members raises concerns about subsidies paid out to farmers, and disputes RPA figures on payments issued.

After an encouraging start with just over 36,000 payments made in the first eight days of the payment window, the NFU’s results show less than 25 per cent of farmers had received a payment by Tuesday (22nd December). Union officials said this is a real cause for concern, particularly when compared with the RPA quote of 41 per cent of payments issued.

Union officials questioned whether the RPA will meet its own target of making 50 percent of payments this month and called on Defra and the RPA to commit to greater transparency in their reporting on payment progress.

NFU President Meurig Raymond commented, “We know there were 15,000 letters sent to farmers in early December to say it’s unlikely they will receive a payment by the end of January. However, many are now in a situation where they are without a payment or a letter stating their payment will be delayed – these are the farmers that we are particularly concerned about.

“If the RPA cannot make the vast majority of payments by the end of January, as promised, then they must tell the farmers who are expecting payment. In our view, vast majority must be at least 85-90 per cent of claims in volume and value. No one can plan on false hope and uncertainty.”

The union said RPA must ensure that any delays do not affect the 2016 claim process and promised to carry out more survey work in the New Year to verify RPA performance amongst its members.

However, an RPA spokesperson told Farming Online, "We remain on track to make payments on over half of eligible claims by the end of the month and the vast majority by the end of January. Small, medium and large sized enterprises in all geographic areas of England and in all sectors of the industry have received BPS payments ranging from under £500 to £150,000."
 
The spokesperson added, "We aim to provide an update on BPS payments before Christmas."