Rural Payments Agency
There are seven weeks remaining for farmers to make their 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application.
The deadline for applications this year is midnight on 15 June, meaning there are now fewer than 50 days to go.
The vast majority of farmers should now have received their pre-populated BP5 claim forms. Anyone who has not received their form, either by email or post, by the end of April should contact the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301.
The Rural Payments Agency has received more than 5,500 applications within the first two weeks of BP5 claim forms being sent out.
Feedback
Responding to feedback from farmers, the Agency has published supporting guidance to show how Ecological Focus Areas can overlap on GOV.UK. This provides examples and illustrations to help farmers.
Updated Request for changes to the Rural Land Register and for the transfer of entitlements (RLE 1) forms and guidance has also been published on GOV.UK. RPA will continue to accept old forms.
Support
Farmers and agents are reminded that help is available to them at 50 support centres across England. A map showing details of locations and opening times can be found on GOV.UK.
The Agency also has 10 mobile support units and one of these will be at the Grassland UK show, in Somerset, on 7 May.
Helpline opening hours
The Rural Payments helpline will be open between 8am and 4pm this Bank Holiday Monday (4 May). The helpline is also available during the same hours on weekends and between 8am and 6pm on weekdays. Call 03000 200 301.
Environmental Stewardship guidance
In line with BPS, farmers and land managers who need to make a claim under existing agri-environment or woodland grant schemes must do so by 15 June 2015.
RLR map packs will be sent to all customers by the end of April. In order to complete their annual claim, existing agri-environment or woodland grant scheme agreement holder should use these maps. Further guidance is available on GOV.UK.