Scottish farmers and crofters are reminded to complete their SAF by 15 May

With the Single Application Form (SAF) window closing on Wednesday 15 May, NFU Scotland is encouraging crofters and farmers to prioritise filling out their forms as soon as possible.

The good weather over the last few weeks may have seen farmers prioritise busy spring work over their SAF, but the Union would now urge these farmers to take the time to fill out their application form, either online or by a paper copy which can be collected from Local Area Offices.

The online application process has seen significant improvements in recent years and the clear majority of applications are now made online. By submitting applications online, the system will flag any errors before submitting your application. Individuals can also go to their Local Area Office where staff will be on hand to assist those completing their form online.

Farmers and crofters are reminded to submit all supporting documentation and keep a proof of submission, whether that be a receipt from your area office or for online applications, print off proof of your submission including the date.

NFU Scotland Policy Manager for CAP Schemes Jenny Brunton said: “The recent good weather may have been a welcome distraction for many farmers and crofters who are yet to complete their 2019 Single Application Form (SAF) but we cannot emphasise enough how important prioritising this work is.

“The deadline of the 15 May is fast approaching and we urge farmers and crofters to concentrate on completing their submission before the last hour. The key thing that everyone completing a form needs to do is double check before and after submission that what is intended to be the BPS claim is actually what is submitted, and don’t forget the Young Farmer Top Up if you are lucky enough to be in that age bracket.”

Notes to Editor

• For further guidance on completing SAF, members read NFU Scotland Policy Manager for CAP Schemes Jenny Brunton’s blog at https://www.nfus.org.uk/news/blog/policy-managers-blog-27-march-2019

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Contact Douglas Ross on 0131 472 4059