Scotland Rural Development Programme

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What are RDC Land Managers' options ( LMO)?

Rural Development Contracts ( RDCs) LMOs are options which help enable SRDP applicants to meet programme objectives.

RDCs link support under Pillar I (Single Farm Payment and other direct schemes) with support under Pillar II (Tiers II and III of the SRDP) under the Common Agricultural Policy.
Tier II was introduced in 2005 as the Land Management Contracts Menu Scheme.
Under the new SRDP Tier II will be implemented under the RDC Land Managers' Options.
LMOs provide support for the provision of economic, social and environmental improvements across Scotland.

LMOs are non-competitive and each participant is limited to a maximum allowance.

Who can participate?

Any land manager with land in Scotland can apply.
You must be registered with the Scottish Government's Integrated Administration and Control System ( IACS) and have a business reference number ( BRN).
For the land-based multi-annual options you must either:
hold the land under a secure tenancy for the duration of the commitment.
if the tenancy is less than 5 years get the landlord to sign up for the remainder of the commitment period.

When and how do I take part?

An application form and Notes for Guidance will be issued around March 2008, probably as part of the IACS pack. (Rural Payments Online will also be available.)
In addition to a LMO application form, all participants with land-based activity must submit a Single Application Form ( SAF) and complete the LMO details on the SAF Field Data Sheet.
You must submit the SAF by the IACS deadline(s) (penalty free by 15 May) .
You must also submit the LMO application form by 15 May.

Do any restrictions apply?

Yes.

Where can I go for assistance or guidance?

What information do I need to supply with my application?

There is no approval process and hence no approval letter issued. Commitments start from the applications submission deadline and payments are made from the end of the scheme year the following May. Land-based options are paid automatically. A claim form must be submitted for the other options by 31 August following the end of the scheme year.

Once I am participating in RDCLMOs, what general conditions will apply?

You will be subject to GAEC and Statutory Management Requirements under cross compliance (those with LMCMS continuing commitments will need to continue complying with Good Farming Practice too).

What will happen if i fail to meet these conditions?

Where conditions have been breached, financial penalties will be applied.
If you do not agree with decisions and penalties applied to your claims you can submit a formal appeal to SGRPID.

Where can I find more details about RDCLMOs?

We aim to issue Notes for Guidance booklets with the IACS pack in March. They will also be available on the SRDP website or from SGRPID local offices.
Any further guidance, for example more detailed or specialised guidance will also be available on the SRDP website at www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp

The Scottish Government