DEVONSHIRE farmers attending the North Devon Show next week will get more information on how new European ‘greening’ environmental measures will affect them.

The latest Rural Payments Agency (RPA) greening leaflet is available at the show, held at Umberleigh on Wednesday 6 August. Along with the recent ministerial announcement, the leaflet gives important information to allow farmers to prepare for next year’s crop.

In 2015 the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) will be replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). As part of BPS, farmers must follow the new greening rules or risk losing about 30 per cent of their total EU payment.

Under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), farming, wildlife, rural businesses and the wider economy in England are set to receive £15 billion in funding from 2014 to 2020.

RPA External Relations Director Arik Dondi said: “People are encouraged to come along to the stand and pick up a copy of the latest greening leaflet, which is also available to everyone on www.gov.uk.

“It will include an overview on permanent grassland, crop diversification and Ecological Focus Areas; give further definitions and exemptions; and provide crop lists so farmers can get seed in the ground.

“If farmers are going to claim BPS it’s important they start thinking about the greening rules now, in case they have to change anything on their holding.

“This leaflet explains what we know so far about the greening rules and will be useful if you’re a farmer, an agent or an agronomist.”

The RPA will keep up-to-date information available through the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk/cap-reform.