This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Farmers reminded of deadline for 1999 IACS applications
06/05/1999
Scottish farmers are being reminded that this year's deadline of Saturday May 15 for the submission of IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) applications to The Scottish Office is only a few days away. So far, less than 35 per cent of Scottish farmers have returned their forms to the Department's area offices.
IACS covers the arable and livestock aid schemes. Those who wish to apply for aid under these schemes must complete an Area Aid Application (AAA) and return it to their local Area Office by May 15. AAAs received after this date will be subject to penalties, which carry over to all IACS claims. It is therefore vital that fully completed and valid AAAs are submitted before this date.
Farmers should submit their AAA by May 15 even if they have queries or problems with their new maps or field identifiers. While local Area Offices will not be open to provide advice on Saturday May 15, forms that arrive at the offices on the day will be deemed to have met the deadline.
The recent extensions to the arable crops and set-aside sowing deadlines do not affect the deadline for IACS applications. Farmers are also reminded that any Field Maintenance Request Forms (FMRs) that are required for the purposes of their 1999 AAA must be submitted with their applications by the May 15 deadline.
Farmers who have queries about their farm maps, field identifiers or field can phone 0131-244-1938, between 0900 and 1700 hours Monday to Friday. For general guidance on completing the application, farmers should contact their local Area Office, or phone 0131-244-6139/6947.
BACKGROUND
1. In 1999, IACS applies to the:
1999 Arable Area Payment Schemes (AAPS);
1999 Beef Special Premium Scheme (BSPS);
1999 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme (SCPS);
1999 Fibre Flax Subsidy;
1999 Hemp Subsidy;
1999 Hops Income Aid;
2000 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances (HLCA) or its replacement;
1999 Sheep Annual Premium (SAPS); and
1999 Grain Legumes Scheme (GLS).
2. All farmers should have received early in March an IACS Explanatory Booklet (IACS(1) 1999), an application form (IACS(2) 1999), two blank Field Data Sheets (IACS(3) 1999) and a blank Set-Aside Field Data Sheet (IACS(4) 1999) (for arable producers only). In addition those who submitted IACS forms in 1998 and whose business has not changed will have received pre-printed Field Data Sheets showing the information they supplied last year. Farmers who have not received these documents should contact their local SOAEFD area office as a matter of urgency.
3. If an AAA is not submitted or is inaccurate, the rights to aid under the IACS Schemes are reduced or lost entirely. An AAA does not have to be submitted for farmers applying only for SAPS, (unless they are claiming the SAPS LFA supplement), or those who are exempt from the stocking density rules of the BSPS or SCPS and who are not claiming extensification premium.
News Release: 0995/99
6 May 1999