If you have a current Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) Agreement that started before 1 January 2012, you will not incur any deduction from your ELS payment.
Sam Catling of Rostons Land & property Specialist comments “However, if you Agreement started after the 1 January 2012
and contains certain options that would qualify for ecological focus areas under the new Basic Payment Scheme, then you will receive a reduction in payment whether or not you use the option/feature as part of your ecological focus area requirement from 2015”
Sam states “if farmers find themselves in this situation they can look at the following options:-
- Find more points under ELS to keep monies at £30 per hectare.
- Accept the reduction, or
- Terminate your ELS Agreement with no penalty”
For further information contact the Rostons office on 01829 773000