The Rural Payments Agency has released updated BPS advice for farmers wishing to claim for farm payments before 15th June. The advice includes information on claims on common land and those with land in different areas of the UK (cross-border farmers).

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NFU officials have pointed out that the posting of forms for commons farmers this week means the RPA has missed its target of ensuring all farmers had recieved their forms by the end of April. There has also been a problem with the common land element of the pre-populated BP5 forms; details of common land parcels have been included in Part C of the form, when they should appear in Part E.

Cross-Border Farmers who are being paid by agencies in Wales or Northern Ireland must submit their applications by midnight on 15th May.

RPA teams will be available to help farmers making claims at a number of agricultural markets in the coming weeks, these are:

8 May – Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
18 & 27 May – Skipton, North Yorkshire
19 May – Tavistock, Devon
19-21 May – Isle of Wight

Though the Agency has provided updated guidance, and the union acknowledged improvements in communications between April and May, on Wednesday, NFU Vice President Guy Smith said, “Given the complexities, challenges and last minute changes involved in this year’s BPS applications” the NFU would be lobbying to avoid excessively delayed payments or penalties.

RPA and NFU are holding regular talks, during this first year of BPS. Though the deadline for applications has been pushed back to accommodate difficulties, Guy Smith said that members have expressed “Anger and frustration” during the application period, after IT issues led to a U-turn at RPA, forcing the Agency to revert to accepting paper forms, and putting an end to government designs for ‘digital-by-default’ submissions earlier this year.
 
Even so, Smith said, “We continue to encourage members to endeavour as best they can to submit forms in good order and in good time and we remind our members of the need for  extra care and attention to detail in this all important initial year of BPS.”