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Wales first to announce emergency measures to support farmers during Covid-19 outbreak

Yesterday on the 1st April, Lesley Griffiths the Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, confirmed the extension to the Single Application Form (SAF) submission to the 15th June 2020.

Carys Studley, Rural Chartered Surveyor of Rostons, comments that “the new extended deadline will now provide applicants with four weeks longer than usual” which, with the possible implications of staffing and potential infection during this worrying time, allows more time for what is for many businesses an extremely important source of funding.

In addition to this, the Crop Diversification rules are not going to be enforced for the 2020 claim. After the very wet weather experienced earlier this year, for some applicants, Carys agreed that “not all arable crops as intended were planted and the two/three crop rule may not have been met”.

Finally, Lesley Griffiths confirmed that an additional £5.5m has been allocated for the BPS and Glastir 2019 support scheme which has now re-opened for farmers who have not received their BPS and/ or Glastir 2019 payment as yet.

As a final remark, Carys confirms that it is “reassuring that Welsh Government, even amidst such unprecedented times, clearly do have Farmer’s, amongst many other sectors in the forefront of their mind”

Rostons, Chartered Surveyors and Agricultural Valuers based in Chester are busy submitting BPS claims for 2020 across England and Wales and are “open for business as usual” albeit, respecting the need to protect our most vulnerable in society and the NHS, we are home working.

Please feel free to contact one of the team at the office number on 01829 773000, where calls will be diverted to our homeworkers if you have any questions about this year’s application.