ONLY 36pc of the producers entitled to claim the £7m farm assurance supplement have done so, and the deadline date is February 4.
Producers can claim FAS as part of their 2004-5 SAPS application if they are a member of a recognised farm assurance scheme or have applied for membership by the deadline.
The actual payment will depend on the number of eligible sheep and the Rural Payments Agency estimates it at 1.5-2.5 euros a ewe. The final payment will be calculated by dividing the fixed £7m by the total of eligible farm-assured ewes.
Ian Frood, Assured British Meat chairman, said: "I am concerned that some producers are not taking up this opportunity for top up funds. Time is of the essence."
To qualify for FAS, producers must be a member of ACCS Beef and Lamb Scheme; EFSIS-FABBL Beef and Lamb Scheme; Freedom Foods; Genesis Quality Assurance Scheme; Soil Association (Farm Assurance Module); Specially Selected Scotch Farm Assurance; and Scottish Organic Producers Association.
Producers who apply for farm assurance membership by February 4 will receive the FAS payment only if they are certified before May 15, 2004.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article