Naked Acres

The RPA is expected to release further guidance on the treatment of ‘naked acres’ (land which is available without entitlements) for this scheme year.  The guidance is expected to say it will not make SPS payments to anyone who ‘artificially creates the conditions required’ to make a claim which are ‘contrary to the objectives of the Scheme’.  In particular it will be looking at claimants who have spare entitlements which lease in eligible land (naked acres) with the only purpose being to activate entitlements.  It will be focussing on agreements which are only for a short period of time around 15^th May and which have no other ‘commercial’ reason than to activate entitlements.  Due to the flat rate system used in England there are less ‘naked acres’ available here than in Scotland and Wales who followed the Historic System, so should be less of an issue here.