BRIEFINGS will be held across the region to help farmers get to grips with a new payments application process.

The NFU will hold a series of sessions to update members on the latest developments with the Basic Payment Scheme.

Keith Wellings, common agricultural policy guidance lead with the Rural Payments Agency, will tell farmers what they need to do following the RPA’s decision last week to abandon the troubled online only application process.

NFU regional director Richard Pearson said: “This is now a very fast moving situation, with fresh information being released daily.

“We are working round the clock to get this information out to members and push the government and RPA to resolve outstanding issues.”

The application deadline was extended from May 15 to June 15 but the NFU urges farmers to work towards the earlier date to give the RPA time to deal with thousands of applications that will be made on paper.

Those who managed to use the online mapping functions successfully do not have to repeat the process on paper.

Two hour sessions will be held on Monday, March 30, at Askham Bryan College, York, 7.30pm; on Tuesday, March 31, at Danby Village Hall, Whitby, 2pm, and Tennants’ Auction Centre, Leyburn, 7.30pm; and Wednesday, April 1, at Allerton Court Hotel, Northallerton, at 9am, and Jersey Farm Hotel, Barnard Castle, at 2pm.

To book a place call Louise Knight on 01904-451550.