Around 18,000 Single Payment Scheme (SPS), claimants have less than five hectares and / or five entitlements and need to start to plan for the introduction of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) for farm payments in May 2015.

RPA External Relations Director Arik Dondi said, "Anyone currently claiming SPS who has less than five hectares of land and/or five entitlements needs to be thinking now about decisions they must make and actions they might take around the 2015 BPS payment.

"We are working to implement the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a way that is as simple, affordable and effective as possible."

Dondi said that RPA would be working to "help people understand how the reforms will affect them, what they need to do and when, and how to get more information."

The RPA director said those affected by the new rules need to consider transferring entitlements to another farmer before 21 October or, having registered on the new CAP Information Service (CAPIS) online system, transferring entitlements to another farmer next year.

The CAP Information Service online system will be introduced gradually, initially with small groups of customers, and on an ongoing basis over the summer and autumn. The RPA external relations director said staff will be contacting claimants over the course of the year and asking them to register onto the new system later this year.