The review needs to be completed as part of the next layer of cross compliance rules and, with farmers entering their busiest time of year, the NFU says it is vital to complete it well in advance of the deadline.

“We are anxious to get the message across to all NFU members of the importance of completing their Cross Compliance soil protection review well in advance of the deadline,” said NFU West Midlands senior policy adviser Andrew Richards.

“We are entering the busiest months of the year for most farmers so it is critical that this measure is completed in good time.

“What farmers should then do is keep their copy of the review on the farm. It is important it is kept on farm and not sent back to the Rural Payments Agency. Inspectors visiting farmers to undertake cross compliance checks may ask to see the review document. “Anyone who fails to complete their review risks potentially severe penalties – perhaps as much as 15 per cent of their single payment scheme claim - as it could be considered an intentional breach of cross compliance.”

To help them meet the deadline, West Midlands farmers are being invited to attend a series of workshops aimed at helping them complete the review and deal with issues thrown up by new waste management regulations. The workshops are being organised by the West Midlands Rural Hub network under the Green Futures banner with the support of the NFU, CLA, the Environment Agency, the Rural Development Service and Momenta. Each workshop has an afternoon session at 2pm and an evening session at 7pm.

There will also be an NVZ drop in session before each presentation, starting at 1pm and 6pm respectively. These will give farmers the opportunity to discuss individual NVZ issues and gain a clearer understanding of their NVZ records. There will also be an opportunity for farmers to get their slurry tested so they can assess the available nitrogen it contains.

This information will help farmers with their nutrient management planning, NVZ records, costs and help them to understand the financial value of their muck.

Dates and venues are as follows:
July 11: Ewyas Harold Memorial Hall, Herefordshire;
July 12: Rudyard Hotel, near Leek;
July 13: Ludlow Football Club;
July 20: Stratford Cattle Market;
July 25: Hadnall Village Hall, near Shrewsbury. Farmers can book their place on the workshops by calling the CLA Training Co-ordinator on 01785 284722.