The Welsh Government have recently published their updated version of the Basic Payment Scheme payment estimator, following the removal of the one published in September due to concerns about the methodology used and its reliability.
Payment history so far
Originally the Welsh Assembly, intended on insuring there were 3 Basic Payment Regions in Wales, however, the legal challenge brought by the ‘Fairness for Uplands’ lobbying against the Welsh Government over the moorland line. The consultation in summer of 2015 resulted in a decision made by the Welsh Assembly, that all of Wales would be a Basic Payment Region, there would be a transaction to a flat rate payment by 2019 and the redistributive payment would be made on a Basic Payment Claimants first 54ha of eligible land.
Carys Studley of Rostons comments that whilst the Welsh payment calculation is fairly complex it is best seen as 4 individual elements being:
- The Basic Payment – The number of entitlements you have by the unit value of the entitlement.
- Greening – The additional payment of greening requirements are met.
- Redistributive Payment – Payment made on the first 54ha of land which will be phased in from 2015/19 and a possible:
- Young Farmer Payment – A further additional payment made to eligible claimants on a maximum of 25ha of land.
The Welsh payment calculator is now available to be used should any one wish to predict their likely payment for this year. The calculator will also estimate the likely payments for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 scheme years.
For further information contact the Rostons office on 01829 773000