The document provides information on upcoming dates for English SPS applications and amendments, including that amendments can be made until June 2nd and late applications can be submitted until June 9th, with penalties. It also summarizes several topics covered in the issue of the National Farmers Union newsletter, including encouraging farmers to maintain environmental features from expired ELS agreements, details on upcoming agronomy open days, information on submitting and amending SPS applications, and noting the NFU's petition regarding the HS2 hybrid bill.

1. National Farmers Union
May 2014 Volume 2, Issue 5
Dates for your Diary!
 2nd June 2014— Amendments can
be made up to midnight on June
2nd, to English SPS applications
already submitted to RPA by 15
May.
 9th June 2014—RPA will accept
late applications and amendments
to SPS claims up to midnight on
9 June. Penalties will be applied.
Inside this issue:
Topic Area Page
Campaign for the Farmed
Environment
1-2
Tried & Tested 2
Single Payment Scheme 3
Rural Surveyor & Tenancy Issues 4
Contact details 5
Page 1 The Voice of British Farming
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ
Tel: 02476 858500 Fax: 02476 858501
Welcome to Down on the Ground; the monthly e-newsletter
from the NFU Land Management Services Team.
CFE
Is your ELS agreement coming to an end?
If your Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreement is expiring this
year, the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) is urging all
farmers to keep in place whatever measures they can until new
schemes become available.
The current reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) means
that there are no equivalent agri-environment schemes available
for you to enter this year. The full detail of CAP greening will be
announced soon, while details about new schemes will be
announced during the second half of the year, with applications
opening during 2015 and the first agreements starting on
January 1st 2016.
Much has been achieved for the farmed environment by
voluntary action to date. If left in place, many of the
environmental features in your ELS agreement will continue to
deliver benefits for biodiversity and the farm business, by
protecting water and soil resources or enhancing habitat for farm
wildlife. It is also likely that some of your previous ELS features may
be used for greening or for the new agri-environment schemes.
By design, many ELS in-field options will have been situated on low-
yielding areas of the farm, which it makes little economic sense to
farm, especially considering the initial time and effort spent in
establishing the options.
Buffering watercourses with grass margins to protect soil and
water resources makes good business sense; as does maintaining
habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Industry Led Initiatives

2. Down on the
Ground
The Voice of British Farming
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
CV8 2TZ Tel: 02476 858500 Fax: 02476 858501
(Back to the top)
CFE continued
Please continue keeping in place:
 Wildflower and Pollen and Nectar Mixes
 Wild Bird Seed Mixtures
 Grass Buffers on Watercourses
 Extensive Hedgerow Management (see CFE Arable and Livestock leaflets for
further details here)
Page 2
Tried & Tested
Tried & Tested – advance alert list for USB memory sticks
Our free USB memory sticks contain all Tried & Tested nutrient management literature and
tools, including some handy calculators. The stick also includes free searchable PDF copies of
Fertiliser Manual (RB209) and NVZ guidelines for 2013-16.
We update our USB memory stick as publications and guidelines change. To be sure of
getting the latest version of the USB stick, you can subscribe to the USB update email list and
we will notify you of changes so that you can request the latest version in the post.
For further information or to place an advance order either drop Liz Murray an email at
nutrientmanagement@nfu.org.uk or leave her a voicemail message providing your email
address by calling 024 7685 8896
EU Soil Framework Directive - withdrawn
The European Commission has announced that it will scrap its proposals for a Soil
Framework Directive. However, UK soil is already protected by a range of other EU
legislation, including cross compliance requirements and farmers still see soil as a long term
vital and valuable resource.
Tried & Tested booklets serve as a reminder of best practice in this area. It might also be
worth having a look at the practical guide ‘Think Soils’ also available on the Tried & Tested
website by clicking here.
National Agronomy Centre Open Days
The National Agronomy Centre (NAC) initiative promotes best practice for profitable,
sustainable and efficient arable crop production with open access to research and practical
information. The NAC open days are free to attend and are a mix of indoor exhibits, seminars
and field based demonstrations, providing impartial information on a range of policy and
agronomy issues, including variety choice, disease and weed management. This year the
NFU and the CFE are supporting the events, which run over the next few weeks and
focussing on the main themes of Yield, Environment and Soil. Visit the open events page, via
the NIAB shop, for further details and how to book:
 19th June—Morley—please click here for information.
 25th June—Sutton Scotney—please click here for information
 3rd July—Caythorpe— please click here for information.

3. Page 3 The Voice of British Farming
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ
Tel: 02476 858500 Fax: 02476 858501
(Back to the top)
SPS 2014 – Late applications and amendments
It isn’t too late to submit a 2014 SPS application. You can submit a late application up to midnight on 9 June,
however you will incur a penalty of 1% per working day late. RPA will reject applications submitted after 9 June,
unless force majeure or exceptional circumstances apply.
If you have submitted your application by 15 May, you can make certain changes up to midnight on 2 June
without incurring penalties (and up to 9 June with penalties). The changes that can be made are:-
Add land parcels (whether or not they are accompanied by payment entitlements); and
Make changes of the use of individual land parcels, or the aid scheme, already included in your application.
Changes must be made in writing (via email or post) to the RPA, whether the claim form was completed by paper
or online. This is critical for online applications already submitted as it prevents a late application penalty being
applied (up to 2 June) if an online claim is resubmitted for a second or later time online after 15 May with an
amendment. The reason for this is the SPS online system does not recognise the earlier applications made before
the deadline when the second one is received after the deadline with an amendment and treats the entire claim
as a late application and thus applies penalties accordingly.
You can also withdraw all or part of your application at any time before the RPA pay you. If the RPA have already
told you about a mistake in your application, or you have been told about an inspection that later reveals
mistakes, then you cannot amend details for the parcels of land concerned. This includes mistakes found by
Natural England or by the Forestry Commission when cross checking your SPS information. Remember to obtain
confirmation from the RPA that changes have been received.
For full detail please refer to the 2013 SPS Handbook (as amended by the 2014 SPS Supplement), these can be
found here.
Have the RPA received your SPS 2014 application?
If you submitted your application online, you should have received an instant on screen acknowledgement
receipt, and a further email receipt within 24 hours. You can also log back onto SPS online, and click on ‘track
claim’ to check your application was submitted. If you posted your application to the RPA, you should receive a
receipt within 10 working days.
If you should have received a receipt and it hasn’t appeared, call the RPA now on 0845 603 7777. You may need to
resubmit the application if the RPA haven’t received it, taking into account the information above on late
applications.
Don’t forget rights of way
If you’re claiming SPS or entered a new commitment under certain agri-environment schemes since 1 January
2007, you must follow the cross compliance rules. GAEC 8 covers public rights of way. The aim of which is to
ensure that public rights of way are kept open and accessible for the public to use. You can find a short briefing on
NFU online. If you are uncertain of your obligations, please call NFU Callfirst on 0870 8458458.
Put your questions to the RPA
Mark Grimshaw, the chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency, has agreed to do an interview for our British
Farmer and Grower magazine. If you have any burning questions that you would like to put to Mark, please get in
touch. Please email your questions to Richard.wordsworth@nfu.org.uk by Friday 30 May 2014.
Single Payment Scheme

4. Page 4 The Voice of British Farming
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ
Tel: 02476 858500 Fax: 02476 858501
(Back to the top)
‘The NFU’s Rural Surveyor Panel can provide
specialist advice on land and tenancy issues.
For more information click here’
The Rural Surveyor and
Tenancy Issues
HS2 –Phase 1
On the 23rd
May the NFU submitted a petition to Parliament regarding the HS2 Hybrid Bill. The petition
highlighted key NFU objections to the HS2 Hybrid Bill and states areas of the Bill which will directly negatively
impact the future and sustainability of the farm businesses affected. We as the NFU worked with our
Parliamentary roll A agent, Sharpe Pritchard to develop a petition that gave a comprehensive over view of the
high level issues facing the agricultural sector in regards to such developments. For example, we made
recommendations regarding improved compensation measures for farm businesses and land owners. We also
questioned HS2 Ltd over the amount of land to be taken out of production for environmental mitigation to
create habitats away from the line. Furthermore, all temporary land take should be acquired on a construction
lease. To read our full petition, please click here.
The NFU has also supported members who are directly affected by HS2 developments to petition the Bill.
Through our Legal Assistance Scheme (LAS) the NFU gave financial and professional support to help members
write, populate and submit their petitions. Working with our Parliamentary Agent, Sharpe Pritchard, members
could apply for a petition template which they could personalise directly to their agricultural holding. Sharpe
Pritchard also provided a ‘health check’ service which allowed for petitions to be checked before they were
submitted on the 23rd
May. Over 50 NFU members took advantage of the NFU support submitted petitions
before the deadline of the 23rd
May.
Submitting a petition formally will now give our members the right to stand before the Select Committee in
the future to give evidence on how the construction of HS2 will affect their businesses.
Site Visit to HS1 Kent
The NFU is organising a site visit to Kent to see how HS1 fits into the surrounding countryside. The visit will
start at the new Ashford livestock market which was relocated due to HS1, a visit to a tunnel entrance,
different bridges over the tracks and members will be able to hear from two farmers who were directly
affected by the construction of HS1. The visit will take place on Wednesday 4th
June 2014 at Ashford Market,
Kent and start at 10 am. If you would like to join the trip please contact your regional office to book a place.
Travel arrangements are either by train to arrive at St Pancreas station at 9.00 am to then travel on HS1 to
Ashford. Members will be met by a NFU staff member at St Pancreas. Otherwise travel arrangements may be
by coach from the region. Details can be obtained from the regional office.
Tenancy Matters.
Jonny Evans has joined the NFU as the Assistant Land Management Adviser in the Land Management Services
Team at Stoneleigh. He assists with the monitoring, development and review of legislation, policy and practice,
and will cover all tenancy issues on a day to day basis and he will be your first contact for members with any
tenancy issues. He will also be covering Network Rail issues along with level crossings.
Institutional Estate Meetings
Over the next few months, the NFU will be holding its annual liaison meetings with the institutional estates
including, The Duchy of Cornwall, Church Commissioners, National Trust, DIO (Defence Infrastructure
Organisation) and The Crown Estate. This is an opportunity for any tenancy issues to be raised at a national
level. Therefore, if there are any significant tenancy issues which you as a member have on your particular
estate and you would like this to be raised at the meetings, then please either inform your county adviser or
contact Jonny Evans (assistant land management adviser) at Stoneleigh. Jonathan.evans@nfu.org.uk ;
Tel: 024 7685 8791

5. W e a r e on t he W eb !
w w w . nf u o nl i ne. com
Where to next?
Please direct all your questions to our CallFirst team on 0870 845 8458
For more information about the NFU services, news and updates visit their
website at www.nfuonline.com
Tools and information about nutrient management can be found here. And
specific questions on nutrient management, particularly NVZs can be directed
by email nutrientmanagement@nfu.org.uk or phone: 02476 858896
To learn more about the CFE please visit their website at
www.cfeonline.org.uk
For specific SPS help and information please visit our webpage by clicking
here.
The NFU Rural Surveyor Panel can provide specialist advice on land and ten-
ancy issues. For more information, click here.
(back to the top)
If you need legal or professional advice particularly to your own circumstances, or if you have any question on information
contained within the Down on the Ground Newsletter, please call NFU CallFirst on 0870 845 8458
If you no longer wish to receive the Down on the Ground Newsletter please click ‘unsubscribe’ which can be found in the
original email this attachment came with. If your details have changed and you would like them to be updated on our
system please email Jennie David.
Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy at the date of publication of the information and comment
provided in this document, no representation is made as to its correctness or completeness and no responsibility of liability is assumed for
errors or omissions. This document is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.
Who’s who at the NFU?
Andrea Graham Team Leader for LMS 0870 845 8458
Richard Wordsworth and
Anna Logan
SPS Help / Information and Basic
Payment Scheme Implementation
Issues
0870 845 8458
Louise Staples Rural Surveyor & Tenancy Issues 0870 845 8458
Bethan Williams HS2 Communications 0870 845 8458
Sam Durham and
Jennie David
Campaign for the Farmed
Environment
024 7685 8892
Jonathan Evans Asst. Land Management Adviser 0870 845 8458
Liz Murray Tried and Tested 024 7685 8896
Ceris Jones Green House Gas Action Plan
(GHGAP)
0870 845 8458
Don Pendergrast Voluntary Initiative 0870 845 8458
Page 5 The Voice of British Farming
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ
Tel: 02476 858500 Fax: 02476 858501