DETAILS of the most important form farmers will complete over the next eight years have been released.

Local rural consultants were among a group invited to London for a briefing on the new single farm payment SP5 form, which replaces the IACS form and provides farmers with a one-off opportunity to register for single payment entitlements.

Sample forms are being sent to farmers over the next few weeks and the actual forms should be issued before the end of March, leaving a tight timetable for farmers to complete and return them by May 16.

"If farmers wish to claim subsidy in the forthcoming years, they must complete and submit this form by May 16 this year," said Kevin Guy of George F White.

The form covers many important points including:

* the total area on which farmers wish to "establish" entitlements and the total area on which they wish to "claim" entitlements for the 2005 year;

* the total area under protein, nuts or energy crops; national reserve applications; and the transfer of historic reference amounts through private contract clauses;

* holding information relating to cross-compliance measures, such as whether the land is classified as a Special Protection Area under the Wild Birds Directive or whether there are any scheduled monuments on the holding;

* other points, including the numbers of livestock on the holding; basic field data, including land use in both 2003 and 2005; common land details; hill farm allowance details for the 2005 payments; the number of authorised entitlements a producer wishes to claim, and a start date for the ten-month occupation rule.

The forms have been designed to minimise the information which farmers are required to submit.

"But there is still a lot of information required and farmers need to address all sections," said Mr Guy. "The advice is to use the sample copy to prepare now, rather than waiting until the last minute. This form is certainly something you can't ignore if you wish to claim subsidy in the future."

Richard Brown of Northallerton Auctions attended the briefing and stressed the need for farmers to complete and return the form before May 16.

"The primary purpose of this year's SP5 submission is to provide the farmer with the unique opportunity to establish his individual entitlement," he said. "For this reason alone, the 2005 SFP will be one of the most important forms the farmer will complete for the next eight years."

It also gave farmers the opportunity to claim from the national reserve and he advised them to read up on cross-compliance regulations. While most of those represented good farming practice, farmers lacking a good knowledge of them, might unintentionally fall foul.

Mr Brown urged farmers and landowners to organise their farm business before the May 16 submission.

"Careful consideration of land occupation will ensure tenants receive the largest, yet sustainable, level of entitlement and landlords secure a guaranteed source of income in the face of a potentially less bouyant farmland rental market," he said.

Mr Guy said the Westminster briefing saw many contentious queries raised, such as the out-wintering of stock and the permanent pasture and temporary grass issue.

"Although a lot of queries were answered, there are still many outstanding which require Defra's attention," he said.