The Scottish Government

Introduction

Scottish Ministers believe that a Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) using the historic approach will provide stability for farmers so they can adapt to the major changes that full decoupling will bring. Specifically, the opportunities for meeting the objectives of the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture - including freedom to farm and market-orientation - and should lead to a more sustainable agriculture sector.

The SFPS is part of the CAP Reform arrangements that were announced in February 2004. The Scheme features;

• Decoupling support from production i.e. subsidy farmers receive will no longer be linked to the level of production; and
• Payments will be based on subsidy receipts during the reference period 2000-2002. This is referred to as the historic approach and is the standard system envisaged in the European legislation.

Single Farm Payment Leaflets

A series of 11 information leaflets was sent out to producers during 2004 covering the following areas:

1.Summary of the Single Farm Payment Scheme

2.Changing your Reference Amount

3.Land Eligibility - The 10 Month Rule

4.Information for Agri-Environment Scheme Participants - Changing your Reference Amount

• Please note: amendment to leaflet 4 "Information for Agri-Environment Scheme Participants - Changing your Reference Amount"

5.Scottish Beef Calf Scheme

6.Set-Aside Land

7.Cross Compliance - leaflet 11 has been superseded updated guidance

8.Transfer of Payment Entitlement

9."Understanding Your Statement of Provisional Payment Entitlements" was sent to producers 29 November 2004 (sent to producers 29 November 2004)

10.Other set aside issues and non-food set aside land (sent to producers 31 January 2005)

11.National Reserve 2005 and Application Form (sent to producers 31 January 2005)

The parish averages used to calculate National Reserve awards has been updated (July 2006)

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