The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has begun making full Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) payments to hill farmers. It has been possible to move to full payments now that the compliance inspection programme is complete. Until now, European Rural Development Regulations meant that RPA could only pay up to 75% of the full value of each HFA claim.
Figures published today show that 5956 claimants have received their remaining 25% balance payments.
Remaining claimants will receive balance or full HFA payments when all the administrative checks have been completed, provided their SPS claim is also fully validated. To date £21.8 million has been paid out on the scheme.
Notes to Editors
1. HFA provides dedicated support to beef and sheep farmers in England’s upland areas. It recognises the difficulties that farmers face in these regions and the vital role they play in maintaining the landscape and rural communities of the hills. The Rt Hon David Miliband MP, at the time Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced in December 2006 that the HFA would continue through until the end of 2009, by which time specific support for upland farmers is to be integrated into Environmental Stewardship.
2. HFA was first introduced in 2001 as one of the ten schemes in England’s Rural Development Programme.
3. HFA will continue to be available until the end of 2009 under the new Rural Development Programme for England (which will operate until 2013).
4. The payment rates for HFA 2008 were announced by Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health on 7 February 2008 and have been set as follows in the Hill Farm Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/51).
 | Area
(hectares) | Severely Disadvantaged Land (other than moorland or common land)
(£/ha) | Severely Disadvantaged Land (moorland or common land)
(£/ha) |
 | 0 – 350 ha | 37.31 | 14.12 |
 | 351 – 700 ha | 18.655 | 7.06 |
5. RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and is responsible for administering the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). Other key services include carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.
Media only contact
Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680, caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
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