THE 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application window opened this week – and farmers have been advised to look at their claims as early as possible.

The final deadline is May 15 but Tim Sedgewick, chartered surveyor with H&H Land and Property, urged farmers to get on with it as mapping and eligibility changes could make the process more complex than previously.

BPS payments begin in December this year and farmers with at least five hectares of agricultural land and five ‘entitlements’ can apply.

Those new to farming can apply for entitlements from the reserve, and young farmers under 40, can benefit from extra money too. Some arable farmers need to grow three different crops and use five per cent of their land for environmentally beneficial measures.

Mr Sedgewick said: “With the deadline only two months away, claimants need to start the process as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary problems or penalties.

“One key point to remember is that during the last few months, the Rural Payments agency (RPA) has made mapping changes to virtually every holding. A lot of grazed woodland has been made ineligible and will need to be looked at again and in some cases contested.

“Most farmers have now received their 2017 BPS payment, however there are about 6,000 claimants still to be paid. The RPA is in the process of sending out claim statements to show how the payment has been calculated. Again, mapping issues may have caused sizeable penalties and reductions, so this is an aspect that should be checked.”

It is especially important farmers check maps are correct before their application is submitted.

They also need to check their claim statement when they receive it to ensure their payment is correct.

Claimants with Countryside Stewardship agreements must also make their annual claim by May 15. These can be made online through the RPA.

Farmers who have not done so already but who wish their agent to submit claims on their behalf – for both BPS and Countryside Stewardship – will need to authorise their agent on the RPA system.

Farmers with an Environmental Stewardship agreement must submit a paper claim form which will be issued by Natural England during March. The deadline is also May 15.

Mr Sedgewick said: “In most cases with an Environmental Stewardship agreement, further payments are due after the agreement has officially finished, so beneficiaries will most probably need to submit a claim even if their agreement has recently ended.

“While there are no changes to the cross-compliance rules in 2018, the RPA has made changes to how they make inspections and apply penalties which will be applied for late reporting of cattle births, movements and deaths in the year of inspection. Sheep farmers should also be aware that the RPA will no longer give notice of sheep identification inspections.”

To recap:

May 15 is the final deadline for applications, entitlements transfer, and applications to the national reserve.

May 31 is the deadline for making certain types of changes to submitted applications without a penalty.

June 11 is the deadline for any late applications.