01 March 2010 - 07/10
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has started to make Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) payments to hill farmers. Figures published today show that 4294 claimants have received partial payments and just over £10m has been paid out in the first week. This represents 70% of eligible claimants.
Farmers who are eligible can receive 75% of their payment when all the administrative checks have been completed, provided their SPS claim is also fully validated.
European Rural Development Regulations mean RPA can only pay up to 75% of the full value of each HFA claim until the inspection programme is complete. Balance payments should start in April.
Notes to Editors
1. HFA was first introduced in 2001 as one of the ten schemes in England’s Rural Development Programme.
2. HFA provides dedicated support to beef and sheep farmers in England’s upland areas. It recognises the difficulties that farmers face in these regions and the vital role they play in maintaining the landscape and rural communities of the hills. This is the last year of the scheme, which is being succeeded by Uplands Entry Level Stewardship, launched by the Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, on 9 February. Uplands ELS will be delivered by Natural England and the first agreements will start in July 2010.
3. There will be a transitional scheme for HFA claimants who are unable to enter into Uplands ELS due to existing commitments on Countryside Stewardship or Environmentally Sensitive Areas agreements. This scheme, known as the Uplands Transitional Payment 2011, will continue to be delivered by RPA and will be claimed for on the SPS 2010 application. The details were published in December 2009 and can be found on our website, at www.rpa.gov.uk, by following these links – RPA Schemes > Livestock Schemes > Uplands Transitional Payment.
4. The payment rates for HFA have been set as follows in the Hill Farm Allowance Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/167), which came into force on 24 February 2010.
 | Area
(hectares) | Severely Disadvantaged Land (other than moorland or common land)
(£/ha) | Severely Disadvantaged Land (moorland or common land)
(£/ha) |
 | 0 – 350 ha | 37.34 | 14.14 |
 | 351 – 700 ha | 18.67 | 7.07 |
5. RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and is responsible for administering the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). Other key services include carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.
Media only contact
Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680,
caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 19 July 2010