Call to make SAF a priority

Farmers and crofters have been urged to make completing and submitting their farm subsidy application forms a priority.

NFU Scotland has issued a reminder that there are less than three weeks left to complete the 2017 Single Application Form (SAF) – the deadline for submission is May 15.

It estimates that more than three-quarters of all forms have still to be submitted, despite reports online SAF submissions for 2017 are up by more than 50% on last year.

The union is now urging farmers and crofters to “crack on” and start filling out their SAF as soon as possible.

It says there is no likelihood of Europe granting an extension to

“Around 4,000 forms have already been submitted”

the application period as it did in 2015 and 2016.

The union’s director of policy, Jonnie Hall, said although the government’s farm payments IT system was coping well with applications, the peak period for submissions was yet to come.

“Around 4,000 (SAFs) out of a possible 18,000 have already been successfully submitted, and many more are already on the system in draft. That said, it is also clear that we have not reached the time of peak flow – and that will be the acid test,” added Mr Hall.

“I appreciate that farmers and crofters are stretched right now but I would urge anyone, whether aiming to complete their own SAF online or filling out the paper version – to make time sooner rather than later for this important task.”