When an inspector calls...

Farmers have been told this week that when they see an inspector coming up the farm road, it’s not a good idea to refuse them access, as this could result in them losing 100 per cent of their basic payment scheme cash.

Writing on the NFU Scotland website, vice-president Charlie Adam points out that farm inspectors are just doing their job and farmers showing that they are happy to work with the inspectors will go a long way to helping the process run smoothly.

Adam admits that when the pressure is on at busy times and there are a hundred and one things to do, it’s all too easy for farmers to forget to make an essential entry in farm records.

“That 9.00 am phone call or a car making its way up the farm drive can signal what every farmer or crofter dreads … an inspection.

“They always seem to happen at the worst possible time, when something has broken down, the vet has been called or you are just up to your eyes with other work.”

But Adam points out that the Scottish Government are required to carry out inspections. “There is no need to panic and if there are any issues, such as bringing cattle inside, then speak with the inspector to make suitable arrangements,” he advised. “Livestock identification and record-keeping are areas where high numbers of breaches are found each year, which can lead to cross compliance penalties on your BPS payment.

“The most common finds during inspections include replacement ear tag details missing from flock registers which must include old and replacement tag details as well as the date the animal was retagged.”

He also advised making sure the annual inventory was up to date and details of all deaths entered into the flock register.

“These carry penalties so it is worth doing a regular check to keep on top of these things.”