TWO meetings to inform farmers about the new hill farm allowance scheme have been re-arranged for next week.

The original meetings were postponed by the NFU when the European Union introduced extra criteria.

The meetings will now take place on Wednesday at the Beaumont hotel, Hexham, at 7.30 and on Thursday at the Scotch Corner hotel, Scotch Corner, at 10.30.

Mr Peter Allen, a Cumbrian hill farmer and chairman of the NFU's less favoured areas committee, and Sally Gibbins, NFU LFA adviser will explain the implications of the scheme, which sees headage payments replaced by area payments.

Miss Laurie Norris, regional NFU hill farming adviser, urged farmers to attend. "I remain concerned at the impact this will have on farming families," she said. "Hill farmers should attend to help them assess their future income."

A further meeting takes place in the Tarn House, Stirton, near Skipton, on Thursday, October 5. Miss Norris will explain the HFA scheme and Andersons farm consultants will give a presentation on business planning