Farmers should record SFP calls

UK - Farmers have been advised to keep a record of answers given by the single farm payment helpline because of concerns about the quality of the information they are getting.

A number of producers have complained to FARMERS WEEKLY that they have been given contradictory or incorrect information by the helpline.

An adviser who asked not to be named, said: "The level of frustration is rising by the day. They are not answering the questions farmers are asking."

Writing on Farmers Weekly Interactive, a reader called Jim said: "I have rung the RPA and the Entry Level Stewardship scheme helplines six times with the same question and I have had six different answers or interpretations of the rules."

Martin Howarth, NFU policy director, said the union had "quite a lot of evidence" that some farmers had been given incorrect advice.

Source: FWi

29 April 2005