NFU Vice President Guy Smith, alongside industry leaders, has met with senior Rural Payments Agency executives to discuss the agency's plans to deliver a fit-for-purpose BPS application system.


"I'm not surprised that our members' patience is wearing thin as they struggle to meet the mapping requirements for the Rural Payments system,” said Mr Smith.

 
"We are facing a critical period with the clock ticking on BPS applications and farm work mounting. I have had good reports from NFU members on the RPA's handling registration for the BPS. However, the RPA's communications to farmers on BPS mapping has been poor. Members are frustrated that the system has been taken offline without warning, that data processing is woefully slow and field data apparently missing.


“During the meeting the RPA committed to making full mapping functions available from this coming weekend. If this level of functionality is not successfully dropped in this week then I'm sure the mood of the NFU and farmers will heighten from one of concern to one of justified alarm. The RPA must deliver on its own mapping deadline as farmers will expect and deserve nothing less at this late stage. And the RPA must dramatically improve its communications with farmers and agents – at this stage both need a clear timetable for delivery of new functions and what the remainder of the application process looks like so that preparatory work can take place now and applications can be prepared in goodtime for May 15.”


The NFU is also demanding that the RPA produce comprehensive guidance that can be easily printed off to help farmers complete the online form, just as HMRC does for self-assessment.