BPS Mapping Guide

The long awaited clarification on mapping grass margins has finally arrived and, as hoped, there will be no requirement to map grass margins separately; they can be included as part of the main crop.  Margins will only require mapping if you are using them as an EFA feature (buffer orfallow) or if you are using the grass margin to meet Crop Diversification rules or for a Greening exemption.  Whilst not explicitly stated, this ruling appears to apply to all grass margins, even those that that have been down for more than five years and which therefore (technically) should be entered as Permanent Grassland. 

This guidance is contained in a DEFRA publication whish has been released to try and answer some of the questions around the online Rural Payments system.  This is titled ‘Building you BPS Application’ and can be found at https://capreform.blog.gov.uk/telling-us-about-your-land/.  Also available is the list of land uses and features, and an A-Z of crops on the Rural Payments system.  The guidance answers a number of common questions we have received over the last few weeks;

• It is possible to make changes after you have pressed ‘submit’ on a land parcel
• If land is missing or additional parcels are showing you need to call the Rural Payments helpline (03000 200 301)
• Scattered ineligible features that add up to 0.01Ha or more in a parcel will need to be mapped
• If a hedge (used for EFA) forms a boundary between two of your land parcels it needs to be mapped in both parcels.  If only half the hedge is to be used, only map in one parcel.
• Gaps of more than 20m in a hedge will need to be mapped separately, you should not map the whole length and just reduce the length submitted.
• Land use should be correct as at 15^th May.  This is unless you are planting a crop after 15^th May for Crop Diversification purposes, in that case enter the land use it will be for the majority of the cropping period. 

Although the new publication has helped clarify the issues surrounding grass strips, many are still experiencing difficulties.  Frustration is still rife with how slow the system is and extended downtime with short notice. W e stress again that the RPA is adamant that there is no Plan B. Further functionality is expected to be added to the system through March and April and claims will need to be built in stages.