BPS Scotland

[KennyO]

Had a quick look at our SAF online today.

Thought there would be something tellling us how much EFA land we should have but couldn't find it. Guess it maybe tells you once you have put in all your cropping. Couldn't even find a summary of all our land.

Has anyone found these points?

 

[Chae1]

No you've to work it out yourself as far as I know. We got agent to do ours. Just counted all grass as rotational.

 

[Colin]

I think it will tell you once you get finished. First you have to go through and "declare" all your land. They have the parcels there already but you have to say what's growing where. I am having one or two issues with what to call some areas but I am going to go right through it and then go and see them.

 

[KennyO]

Wet morning, and sis in-law here to look after wee one. Got the Office tidied (it like being a Student again) better make a start to the new Scheme- F**kin website is off line today.

 

[Crex]

It's off all today, as they are putting the new agri-environment scheme online.

 

[Farmer Dod]

To top it all- there's businesses up here now getting separate business investigations after declaring interests in more than one business!

The reality of the whole seasonal lets debacle seems to finally be hitting home as well.

Still seems to be masses of uncertainty and unanswered questions. Now only 7 weeks to go and have much less confidence in new regime than I had a few months ago.

 

[always busy]

To top it all- there's businesses up here now getting separate business investigations after declaring interests in more than one business!

The reality of the whole seasonal lets debacle seems to finally be hitting home as well.

Still seems to be masses of uncertainty and unanswered questions. Now only 7 weeks to go and have much less confidence in new regime than I had a few months ago.

What is the problem with seasonal lets? farmer Dod

 

[Farmer Dod]

What is the problem with seasonal lets? farmer Dod

Landlords putting land on their form to get claim, whilst seasonal tenant has to find other land to claim on to preserve entitlements or risk windfall tax. Seasonal tenant still gets use of grassland but how that makes the landlord the active farmer I have no idea. Will be interesting to see if grass rents come back to reflect this.

 

[Chae1]

Another potential problem to be highlighted to landlord is that the land has to be farmed according to good farming practice. Because a tenant could cost the landlord his payment. Might stop them just giving it too highest bidder.

 

[Farmer Dod]

Seasonal agreements will ensure that tenants must follow cross compliance standards and are liable for any loss of payment.

Farmers aren't going to make much from new subsidy however can see a lot of land agents getting fat off this.

 

[T C]

Landlords putting land on their form to get claim, whilst seasonal tenant has to find other land to claim on to preserve entitlements or risk windfall tax. Seasonal tenant still gets use of grassland but how that makes the landlord the active farmer I have no idea. Will be interesting to see if grass rents come back to reflect this.

Is there much point in putting seasonal land on ? As far as I understand your 2014 payment is consolidated onto your permanent land.
There is a point for LFASS payments.
I assume grass lets will be with sub or without sub the difference being the sub - BPS is a subsidy for owning land
PS is back up now, but as far as I can see no way to pre-populate with last years data.

 

[DrDunc]

If anybody does twitter thing, look for an account scotsfarmer.

Apparently there's a civil servant trying to blow the lid on the shyte software and the mess it's in.

I don't do twitter so don't know if its valid.

 

[DrDunc]

Here's a link

This url will work, you don't need to join twitter
https://twitter.com/ScotsFarmer

Someone on the inside of the project is very annoyed!

 

[Stuart J]

I can only see 4 of his tweets?

 

[Stuart J]

See it now on my phone.

What a mess of a situation.

 

[Stuart J]

No wonder Drew Sloan left when he did.

 

[Farmer Dod]

The Beef Efficiency Scheme may be a good thing but surely the focus of the Scottish Government should be delivering the BPS in a way that is usable and ensures payment is received as early in the window as possible.

It seems strange that we've been encouraged over the years to do it all online- with a system that seemed to work well then suddenly looks like having to go back to paper forms.

 

[DrDunc]

No wonder Drew Sloan left when he did.

Aye, to go work for a VERY small software company, silent herdsman.

He knew the fan was blowing.....

There's no way he's on the same salary that he had in the civil service! Maybe the cut in pay reflects that some of the stuff in front of the fan got stuck on him before he went?

 

[Stuart J]

Didn't realise thats where he was off to.

Maybe? Always thought he was a decent, sensible guy.

 

[DrDunc]

Didn't realise thats where he was off to.

Maybe? Always thought he was a decent, sensible guy.

I thought so too, though it's been a few years since I've had any dealings with him.

The civil service have a vested interest in making this reform as complicated as possible. That way there are more jobs for them.

Perhaps Drew just got fed up of the procrastination and complete lack of ownership for anything. He'd get a good golden handshake for going.



There certainly seems to be a nasty degree of corruption on the project if the tweets are correct.