FARMING Minister George Eustice has been asked for a second time to extend the May 16 deadline for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme in England.

George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, wrote again after attending a meeting of the Rural Payment Agency's (RPA's) senior stakeholder group on Tuesday.

He said: "Much of the meeting focused on the inevitable confluence of issues from both 2015 and 2016 with the RPA advising that 2016 applicants should make as good as stab as possible to make an application before the May 16 deadline and then use the statutory adjustment period to the end of May to make any required amendments.

"This is an unsatisfactory situation and clearly more time is necessary to allow sensible applications to be submitted on time."

Phil Hogan, EU Agriculture Commissioner, signalled that he would be tabling this week the necessary draft legislation providing the option for Member States to apply for an extension until June 16.

Mr Dunn said: "We heard that Defra first has to consider the line to take on the legislation itself and if it is enacted, whether or not to use the flexibility offered.

"The TFA has urged Defra both to support the passage of the legislation and then to apply as soon as possible for an extension to the 2016 deadline under the terms of the derogation.

"The staff of the RPA is working incredibly hard and I continue to have every confidence in Mark Grimshaw as the Agency’s chief executive and his management team. However, the problems of 2015 are continuing to cast a dark shadow over the workload for 2016 and we must provide both the RPA and BPS applicants in England a breathing space to get the work done to a good standard."

n Officers from the National Sheep Association (NSA) have raised their concerns about late Basic Payment Scheme payments and the May 16 deadline with Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss.

They were concerned about those who had not received their 2015 money or payment statement, yet were expected to submit their 2016 claim before the deadline date.

But after meeting Mrs Truss on Friday, Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive, said she had provided assurances on the matter.

He said: "It was good to finally have some clarity on this issue and assurance that farmers who are paid after May 16 will not be penalised should they inadvertently submit an incorrect claim.

"Our understanding following the meeting is that 2016 claims made online will be automatically updated once RPA has made the final calculations for the 2015 payment, and paper applications can be changed without penalty.

"NSA continues to urge members to meet the May 16 deadline, however difficult it may be for those people still not in receipt of their 2015 payment statement, and would welcome more clarity from RPA that farmers will not be penalised for errors outside of their control."