As the exchange rate for the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was set today at €1 = £0.85995, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) confirmed some English farmers still need to act to secure the payments they are due.

The payments for SPS, Area Payment for Nuts and Protein Crop Premium are set in Euros and are converted to sterling each year using the last exchange rate set by the European Central Bank (ECB) in September.

Glen Portman, SPS 2010 Manager at the Rural Payments Agency, today urged farmers in England who applied for their SPS 2010 payment to check their records in and if necessary, provide RPA with the right bank account details, especially those farmers who selected to be paid in Euros who need to provide a UK-based Euro bank account.

“The majority of farmers have provided us with details of their bank account, but a small number have yet to do so. It really is crucial that these farmers provide their details or we can’t pay them.”

RPA makes all payments direct to bank accounts by BACS transfer and farmers need to provide up to date bank details by completing a CReg10 form which is available directly from RPA’s website, www.rpa.gov.uk in the ‘customer registration’ section. Farmers can also get a form by telephoning the RPA’s Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777 or by emailing csc@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.