On Tuesday the Rural Payments Agency issued a reminder to farmers wishing to apply for payments under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme that there re only two weeks left in which to submit claims and avoid penalties.

The reminder was issued just one day after the Agency confirmed that it had made bridging payments to 7,000 farmers who have yet to receive the full sum of their 2015 payments.

RPA said 62 percent of the applications it expects to receive have already been submitted or are in progress and is urging those who haven’t yet started to begin their applications, even if they haven’t yet received their full 2015 payment. After the delays and complications of the 2015 year - the first year of the new scheme -  2016 claims should be processed and paid earlier in the payment window, as the groundwork is already in place.

By Wednesday, almost 90 percent of claimants had received their 2015 payments, according to RPA.

RPA’s Chief Executive Mark Grimshaw said, “We know that BPS money is hugely important to farmers so we want to give everyone all the help they need to make their 2016 claim on time. That is why we’re geared up to help with extensive support available online at GOV.UK, over the phone and in person.

“Our helpline people are working seven days a week answering calls and 14 support centres are available to help people claim online. People can drop-in during the week and we have plenty of appointments left for weekend visits. We are urging people to apply using the Rural Payments service, but I want to reassure farmers that there is a paper option for those who need it.”

Defra has updated its BPS guidance, which can be found here.

Key dates for BPS 2016:

• 6 May – last day to email RPA to ask for land parcels to be added to online claims on the Rural Payments service.
• 9 May – last day to ask RPA for a paper form to make sure it’s received by 12 May, giving applicants time to complete and submit it by 16 May.
• 16 May (midnight) – deadline to submit a claim before penalties apply.
• 10 June - Absolute final date for applications. Farmers applying after 16 May will lose 1% of the value of their claim for every working day after the 16 May deadline their application is delayed.

Farmers can make changes to their claim submitted before 16 May, right up to 31 May without incurring any penalties.