This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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EPS check date announced
17/05/2004
The Scottish Executive Environment and
Rural Affairs Department today announced the second check
date under the standard scheme option of the
Extensification Payment Scheme (EPS) 2004.
The date, covering the period March to
April 2004 is 25 April 2004 and is the same for all
applicants across the UK.
The first check date (27 February 2004)
covering January to February 2004 was randomly selected and
announced in March.
The third check date will fall during May or
June and will be announced in July 2004.
Producers must state that they wish to
claim under the Extensification Payment Scheme on their
IACS Area Aid Application for 2004.
There are two options (simplified and
standard) and they must opt for one or other of these
schemes.
Producers who choose the standard scheme are
required to notify the Environment and Rural Affairs
Department of the total number of cattle (from 6 months
old) on their holding at six check dates during the year
and should take note of the second check date.
This is the second of six check dates
for producers participating in the EPS 2004 standard scheme
option.
They will be required to fill in declaration
letters detailing the total number of cattle (from 6 months
old) on their holdings on these six check dates.
We use this information to calculate the
number of Livestock Units (LUs) on their holdings.
The first declaration letter, which will be
sent in July will require entries in respect of the first
three check dates for 2004.
These forms must be returned to the
producers' SEERAD area office within one month of
receipt
LUs are calculated on the following
basis:
Sheep claimed and paid under SAPS 2004 =
0.15 LU; Male bovine animals and heifers older than 24
months, suckler and dairy cows = 1.0 LU; male bovine
animals and heifers from 6 to 24 months = 0.6 LU.
Payment rates under the EPS 2004 are
euros 80 per eligible animal for stocking
density levels below 1.4 LU/hectare, and euros 40 per
eligible animal for stocking density levels of 1.4
LU/hectare or more, and less than or equal to 1.8
LU/hectare.
The sterling equivalents will be based on
the average rate of exchange for December 2003 and are
worth £56.14 (£54.17 after modulation) and £28.07 (£27.09
after modulation) respectively.
Modulation is set at 3.5 per cent for
payments made under the EPS 2004.