1 C reps 4 payment Form

handlemaster

I received a letter in the post from my reps planner seeking 393 euro to submit my 1 C form. I only have 24 acres in the reps. I think this is ridiculous for such a small holding. Is this somthing I can do myself. I don't remember receiving anything in the post. Can I ask the agri department to post me out one ?

Sam Kade

I get mine in the post and fill it out myself. You have to take it to your local office and make sure to get a photo copy of the stamped form. The 3rd year you will have to get your planner to sign it after he inspects your records.

€400 sounds a lot are you sure he isn't charging for something else?

handlemaster

I have since heard this form doesn't need to be filled in if your in reps 4. Once you return the single farm payment form that covers you. Anybody else in reps 4 out there that would know about this ?

gernon

There is no 1c form in REPS 4, just your SFP application form but if you have not submitted soil samples in year 1 you will have to get an adjusted plan in year 2 and that will cost a few hundred.

handlemaster

soil samples ? I didn't get anything sent to me saying that. There was no stock on the land so would I still need to get soil samples. How much does this cost where would I send them to ?

agcons

handlemaster wrote: »

soil samples ? I didn't get anything sent to me saying that. There was no stock on the land so would I still need to get soil samples. How much does this cost where would I send them to ?

Assuming you are in REPS 4 then there is no 1C as such. Your SPS is your annual application. You are obliged to keep uptodate records and to submit an adjusted plan where necessary(the REPS specs tells you when this is required). After 3 years you will need to get your planner to certify that you have uptodate records etc. Presumably what your planner wrote to you about is your annual review, known historically as the 1C whereby he will prepare your records, adjust your plan if necessary and advise you on what you need to be doing to stay compliant with the scheme and avoid penalties.
Whether your planner is good value or not depends to a large extent on how you use him (and going on your posts you have made very poor use of him so far)and how good a service he provides.
Regarding fees, like many of the options in REPS there is a higher cost on the smaller guy than the bigger guy simply because the basic costs eg travel, phone etc are independent of the farm size.

handlemaster

thanks for the Info. That has cleared up a few points

Username John

agcons wrote: »

Whether your planner is good value or not depends to a large extent on how you use him (and going on your posts you have made very poor use of him so far)and how good a service he provides.

Hi Agcons,

I know you're in the Ag consultant business, and am interested in your comment above. What in your opinion constitues good use of a REPS planner? Or maybe this could be re-phrased as what do you think a REPS planner should do annually?

agcons wrote: »

Regarding fees, like many of the options in REPS there is a higher cost on the smaller guy than the bigger guy simply because the basic costs eg travel, phone etc are independent of the farm size.

Yep - phone I accept. Travel, am guessing you think a REPS planner should call to their client every year, or a few times a year?

I think the question of planner fees has come up a few times, in a few threads. And I dont mean to put you on the spot, but am interested to hear your opinion on what a "good service" from a REPS planner would be. Or from any REPS planner on the boards...

This would help people work out if they're getting value for money or not - or help me at least

Thanks in advance.

agcons

For his( or her) annual fee I think the planner should, in no particular order,
prepare and submit the SPS application and deal with/advise on any issues regarding entitlements eg buying, selling, leasing etc

prepare the annual record sheets and make sure they comply with the reps plan and what is happening on the ground and dont contain any errors that might lead to a penalty

update the plan to reflect any relevant changes that might have happened on the farm

walk the farm once a year, to check that all is well and very importantly advise the farmer on what can be done to rectify mistakes that might have been made(its amazing the maddness that affects farmers when a bulldozer passes near their yard!!). Basically the visit is about minimising the chances of a penalty if a Dept inspection occurred and setting the farmer up with a to do list for the coming year
The planner should also be available on the phone or in the office for any general queries that may come up during the year, eg this year the cso forms. It doesnt happen every year but once in a while the farmer needs to be able to run ideas re the farm past his planner and the planner needs to be available for these consultations.
Where problems with inspections do arise the planner should also take care of the appeals, in consultation with the farmer.


Thats a general summary of what we do. Hope its of some use to you. Some agencies may do more, some do less. The annual fee doesnt include accounts related advice, or technical farming advice.

Username John

Thank you Agcons, thats a help for me, and others too am sure to work out what we should expect.

reilig

agcons wrote: »

For his( or her) annual fee I think the planner should, in no particular order,
prepare and submit the SPS application and deal with/advise on any issues regarding entitlements eg buying, selling, leasing etc

prepare the annual record sheets and make sure they comply with the reps plan and what is happening on the ground and dont contain any errors that might lead to a penalty

update the plan to reflect any relevant changes that might have happened on the farm

walk the farm once a year, to check that all is well and very importantly advise the farmer on what can be done to rectify mistakes that might have been made(its amazing the maddness that affects farmers when a bulldozer passes near their yard!!). Basically the visit is about minimising the chances of a penalty if a Dept inspection occurred and setting the farmer up with a to do list for the coming year
The planner should also be available on the phone or in the office for any general queries that may come up during the year, eg this year the cso forms. It doesnt happen every year but once in a while the farmer needs to be able to run ideas re the farm past his planner and the planner needs to be available for these consultations.
Where problems with inspections do arise the planner should also take care of the appeals, in consultation with the farmer.


Thats a general summary of what we do. Hope its of some use to you. Some agencies may do more, some do less. The annual fee doesnt include accounts related advice, or technical farming advice.

Thanks Agcons, that's a good constructive post!! Any farmer that uses a planner can gauge the services that he/she receives and determine if they are receiving value for money.

BeeDI

agcons wrote: »

For his( or her) annual fee I think the planner should, in no particular order,
prepare and submit the SPS application and deal with/advise on any issues regarding entitlements eg buying, selling, leasing etc

prepare the annual record sheets and make sure they comply with the reps plan and what is happening on the ground and dont contain any errors that might lead to a penalty

update the plan to reflect any relevant changes that might have happened on the farm

walk the farm once a year, to check that all is well and very importantly advise the farmer on what can be done to rectify mistakes that might have been made(its amazing the maddness that affects farmers when a bulldozer passes near their yard!!). Basically the visit is about minimising the chances of a penalty if a Dept inspection occurred and setting the farmer up with a to do list for the coming year
The planner should also be available on the phone or in the office for any general queries that may come up during the year, eg this year the cso forms. It doesnt happen every year but once in a while the farmer needs to be able to run ideas re the farm past his planner and the planner needs to be available for these consultations.
Where problems with inspections do arise the planner should also take care of the appeals, in consultation with the farmer.


Thats a general summary of what we do. Hope its of some use to you. Some agencies may do more, some do less. The annual fee doesnt include accounts related advice, or technical farming advice.

You forgot to mention that any planner worth his salt, would give a hand at least 2 days a year, tidying up stone walls, cutting bushes, etc, fencing, etc, etc, :D