FARMERS whose entry level stewardship agreements need renewing have been urged to act quickly.

The scheme is worth an average of £4,000 a year - more than £330 a month - but those who apply late face a gap in payments.

About 2,600 (52pc) of farmers and land managers whose ELS agreements expire on July 31 either applied after the June 1 deadline or still have not applied.

Natural England this week said staff were working hard to ensure as many as possible received their August 1 payment, but said it was inevitable that some would not start until September 1 at the earliest.

Robin Tucker, Natural England's executive director for national delivery, said: "Nine out of ten with expiring ELS agreements have said they wish to renew, but it looks like some applications will arrive too late for their new agreement to carry on from the old one.

"We urge farmers to send in their applications at least two months before their old agreement expires."

He said hill farmers with expiring ELS agreements should consider joining uplands ELS, which pays up to £62 per hectare.

Agreements which expire on August 31 have an application date of July 1, for a new agreement start date of September 1. Those that expire on September 31 have an application date of August 1 for a start date of October 1.

Agreements which expire on October 30 have an application date of September 1 for a start date of November 1.