THE introduction of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) next year will present a 'huge challenge' to Cumbrian farmers, a leading county expert has warned.

Farm business advisor Andrew Jamieson said his office had been dealing with two major issues that were of current concern to farmers - both connected to implementation of next year's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) changes.

Mr Jamieson said: “The first issue relates to how the new online system will work and how they will manage to ensure that everything is up and running online by May.

“The other major concern is related to ecological focus areas and how they will be inspected.

"Defra has issued guidance as and when it has become available and we have digested and shared that information as widely as possible. However, the final information farmers need to know about the ‘greening’ aspect of the CAP did not become available until November, so it’s quite understandable that people have been concerned.”

The controversial ‘greening’ part of the policy will make up 30 per cent of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) which comes into effect from January 1, with a further two per cent allocated for the young farmer incentive. The new BPS is also aiming to prevent payments to ‘slipper’ farmers and has drawn up new guidance on who is and is not now classed as an active farmer.

Mr Jamieson said: "The transition from the Single Farm Payment Scheme to BPS is a huge challenge for the industry. From May 15, all applications from English farmers must be made online.

“These are huge changes, especially for the arable sector. All English farmers must re-register to claim BPS and the Rural Payments Agency is already falling behind with the new online system."

"It is understandable that farmers are concerned about how this will be managed. It’s an extra worry in addition to the day-to-day concerns about running their businesses.”