Scottish Government has been accused of leaving important environmental work in limbo.
Agricultural consultants and NFU Scotland have blasted government over its handling of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).
The environmental scheme officially started on January 1, however producers have not yet received the necessary paperwork to confirm their involvement in the scheme.
It has also emerged that this year’s scheme has not yet opened for applications despite having a planned opening date of January 11.
NFU Scotland has hit out at government over the delays, criticising the fact that less than 700 applications which were submitted by June 12, 2015, had not yet been processed.
President Allan Bowie said “important environmental work in Scotland is in limbo” as a result of the delays.
“Continued delays and uncertainty are coming at a time when many Scottish farming businesses are under severe cash-flow pressures. We fully appreciate that Scottish Government staff are working flat out to resolve ongoing issues but they need to get clear messages out to grass roots farmers on when delays are going to be resolved; when BPS monies will start flowing; when AECS applications will be approved and what implications ongoing delays have for other vital schemes such as LFASS and beef and hogg headage payments,” said Mr Bowie.
Gordon McConachie, a senior agribusiness adviser at CKD Galbraith, said he could not understand why AECS contracts had not been issued because most applicants had been inspected, scored and had any issues resolved by the end of last year.
“I can take a guess that the problem is the new multi-million pound computer system that just can’t cope with the new Cap measures. What is stopping SGRPID issuing a yes or a no so that farmers can get on with planting hedges or fencing works? The contracts and paperwork can follow on afterwards,” said Mr McConachie.
“For years now Mr Lochhead has been harping on about Scottish agriculture’s green credentials yet they won’t put up the necessary cash and frameworks to back this up. Farmers – and much maligned agents – are trying to do their bit yet are stifled by red tape and excuse after excuse from Scot Gov.”
When asked why farmers had not yet received their AECS contracts and when the new scheme would open for applications, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Despite implementing some of the biggest reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy in a generation we are still on track to open AECS 2016 before the end of January and we are continuing to do all we can to avoid or minimise any delays to other payment schemes.
“We know how keen applicants will be to find out if their applications were successful and with a new AECS round due to open shortly it is even more important to inform people as soon as possible of the outcome of their 2015 application. We expect to inform all applicants shortly.”