THE pioneers of organic farming are expected to be major losers under the new Single Farm Payment scheme.

The Soil Association this week said that up to 200 long-standing organic farmers and 600 organic dairy farmers, who converted more recently, have fallen foul of the new system, which bases part of the SFP on the amount of subsidy individuals have received in the past.

The old payments rewarded farmers for keeping large numbers of livestock or for growing large areas of arable crops, but, says the Soil Association, because organic farmers have generally kept fewer animals, and grown a wider range of unsubsidised crops, they have typically received 40pc less CAP money compared with non-organic businesses.

Hardship payments may be available to farmers who were in agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship or the Organic Aid Scheme between 1997 and 2002.

However, Defra has ruled that those who converted to organic production before 1994, when the organic grant aid was first available, will not qualify for hardship as they must have converted purely as a business decision. The Soil Association believes 200 organic farmers are affected by that decision.

"Defra's decision is grossly unfair," said Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association. "These farmers pioneered sustainable agriculture and have provided environmental benefits for more then ten years. They never benefited from public money to convert to organic farming and now they will lose out again.

"Accommodating these farmers would not involve significant sums of public money; it is the principle that is important."

In England, between 2005 and 2012, payments will gradually switch from an historic base to regional payments based on the area of land farmed. It will eventually bring organic and non-organic farmers the same rate of pay. In the meantime, the association wants long-standing organic producers to receive payments from the national reserve or for Defra to pay them the full regional payment now, which it could do.

In England, organic and non-organic dairy producers will receive a payment based on the amount of milk quota held on March 31, 2005. Organic dairy farmers usually produce less milk than non-organic dairy farmers because they may use dual purpose breeds which give lower yields, rely on forage rather than concentrate for feed, and have lower stocking densities.

The Soil Association again wants Defra to make payments to producers from the national reserve, or use its option of paying the full regional average payment from the outset.

In Wales and Scotland, where payments will remain historically based, the association wants organic producers to be helped via the national reserve to bring them up to the same level as non-organic farmers.

The association reminded farmers that hardship claims must be made by the end of this month and claims under the national reserve must be made in May as part of the single payment scheme application.

The association's producer services department wants organic farmers who may be affected to contact it on 0117 914 2400