[Rosemary]

Well, Richard Lochhead was never going to please everyone but the new SRDP (Pillar 2) has £6m over 2014-2020 for "Small Farmers" which is "targeted support for small farms that face similar issues as crofters regarding sustainability. The definition of small farms is currently being developed based on discussions with stakeholders." I'm curious to know who the stakeholders are, since there are no significant representative groups for smallholders.

LEADER has £20 million for specific support for small business growth, including £10 million for farm and croft diversification. And finally there's New Entrants Support with a budget allocation £20m to provide support for start-up grants for new entrant young farmers of up to 40 years old (as set by Europe). Further support will be available for new entrants, regardless of age, to access capital funding to improve their business. This may be similar to the Crofting Capital Grants Scheme and it depends how "new entrants" are defined - it may be new entrants to the Basic Payment Scheme, but I don't know that.

The SRDP scheme is due to open January 2015 and for projects under £75,000, there will be continuous local approval. Bigger projects will be assessed nationally.

On the Basic Payment Scheme, if you actively farm 3ha or more of eligible land, you can apply. There are conditions but for small grassland farms, these seem to relatively modest.

Of course the devil will be in the details and now we have to find out what a "Small Farmer" is 

[Rosemary]

Any Scottish smallholders on here geting SFP? Planning to apply for the new Basic Payment?

[oor wullie]

I don't have any SFP just now but would certainly apply. 
Do you know how to go about it or where the best source of information is?

[fiestyredhead331]

would love to but apparently not entitled to a bean!!! despite the animals all being registered to me, until the ex decides to ever transfer the croft to me, I don't get a brass farthing 

[Rosemary]

I don't have any SFP just now but would certainly apply. 
Do you know how to go about it or where the best source of information is?

I'll do some digging 

[Daisys Mum]

I certainly would be keen to apply if I knew how to go about it   

[Rosemary]

Well, as far as I can make out, if you already get Single Farm Payment, then you'll automatically transfer to the new system. In fact, I think if you fill in a Single Application Form every year, as we do (we don't get SFP but we do get Scottish Beef Scheme), you'll be included.

In the Guidance booklet, it says you need to register using the "Land Maintenance Form". I just spoke to the Perth RPID office and they aren't aware of the form being in existence yet, but they're chasing it up.

I GUESS it will be similar to the Land and Business Change Form (LBCF) but that's just a guess.

Closing date for applications will be 15th May 2015, which is the current closing date for SAF submissions.

I'll try and keep putting info on here but is anone else has information that could be shared, please do so.

The SG Guidance Notes are here http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/CAP/CAPIntro

I can't find the two Guidance Notes on direct payments and SRDP on-line but will try and attach the ones I downloaded earlier. Hope this is OK.

[Rosemary]

Just had a call from RPID. The Land Maintenance Form referred to in the guidance IS the Land and Business Change Form. So if you have completed the LBCF and have a location code then that's all you need to do meantime.

Why have they changed the name to Land Maintenance Form? LBCF is a bit of a mouthful but much better describes what the form is for. Land Maintenance Form sounds like something quite different.

[oor wullie]

They are just keeping you on your feet by changing the names of things and not telling you!

So........ I have filled out a LBCF and have a location code.  I have claimed through a RP scheme (for tree planting) but have no SFP and have never filled out a SAF (although I will next year to get maintenance payments on the trees).
So in the meantime I don't need to do anything but in the future I will doubtless have to fill out some application for new entrants SFP.
Is that right?

Thanks for doing the finding out.

[Factotum]

They are revising the on-line claim system for SFP & the Scottish Beef Scheme etc - it's the Rural Payments on-line. Apparently the new system will be much better than the existing one.

As with all government websites, I wait with bated breath to see how the new one works...

There's a time line for the launch of the new system here: http://ruralpayments.org/


Sue

[Rosemary]

planting) but have no SFP and have never filled out a SAF (although I will next year to get maintenance payments on the trees).
So in the meantime I don't need to do anything but in the future I will doubtless have to fill out some application for new entrants SFP.
Is that right?

I think so, oor wullie. You can also claim under the Scottish Beef Scheme or whatever it's been renamed for beef calves. You don't need to get SFP to claim but you do need to fill in a SAF.