Author: Jeanette Dennis

Issue: May 09

Applications received after 11th June will be rejected, and 2010 claims lost.  After 17th May, only certain amendments made in writing can be made to 2010 forms that have been submitted, up to and including 30 May 2010.

So, the message this week must be to get the maps double checked, and the forms sent back. If hand delivery of the forms or online submission is not an option then look at one of the guaranteed next day delivery services, or a courier. There have been a lot of problems this year with the re-mapping, so do not leave the forms and maps to the last minute, and do not assume that all will be correctly shown. Give yourself time to check, and also if necessary to get further details to ensure the forms are completed correctly.

And where you are a contractor, perhaps follow the example of one Essex farmer contractor, who had such problems as a result of forms being submitted wrongly in the past by a landowner that he decided to take matters in hand himself and do the applications for the landowner to sign, rather than risk a last minute problem.

Finally, this must be the one time of year that you could justify the cost of  professional help: although if you have left it until now to hire an agent for your SFP, then you may not find anyone willing to take you on at such short notice.