On Wednesday, Defra published the Basic Payment Scheme 2015 Guidance booklet.  Farmers can now start to prepare their applications for the new scheme, which must be submitted by 15 May.   

The handbook draws together and updates the information previously released in the CAP Reform leaflets.

It advises on who is eligible to claim for payment under the scheme; what farmers need to know before they can claim; and what they need to grow and do on their land. Amongst the advice there are 33 pages dedicated to new greening rules. There is also a chapter about applying online.

Commenting on Wednesday, Rural Payments Agency Chief Executive Officer Mark Grimshaw said, “My message is very simple – if you are planning to claim the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, you need to get on and register now.

“This handbook gives farmers, growers and landowners the information they need to make their claim. Even if you were claiming under the old Single Payment Scheme (SPS), you will still need to register on the new service to claim the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015.”

Grimshaw acknowledged, “There is lots to do in this the first year of BPS and you will need to build your claim.,” but said, “It will be easier in future years once we have all your information confirmed on the service.”

The handbook will be sent out immediately via email to farmers who meet the minimum requirements to qualify for payment, and who have an email address registered with RPA. Hard copies will be sent out in March.

Farmers are advised to read the handbook in full as some guidance has changed since the publication of the leaflets and some areas are now explained in more detail.

The booklet includes confirmation that licensed organic farmers automatically qualify for the greening element of the Basic Payment Scheme, and don’t need to worry about the pages of detail explaining the new Greening rules.
 
Trevor Mansfield, Head of Farming & Land Use Policy at the Soil Association said, “This is welcome recognition from Defra that organic farming is green by default. With the automatic qualification for the 30% greening element of the Basic Payment Scheme, together with the forthcoming Organic Maintenance and Conversion options in the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme, being organic will be worth around £120 per hectare on arable land in England. 

“On Tuesday we launched our Organic Market Report for 2015, showing continued growth in the UK organic market.  There has never been a better time for farmers to go organic.”

The organic report showed that, while sales of organic have performed well over the past year, reversing trends seen in conventional grocery and dairy sales, the amount of land under organic management or in conversion in the UK has  continued to fall.

Click here to download the guide