BPS Update

April 21, 2016 12:00 am

2015 BPS

As of 14th April, 76,500 (88%) claimants had been paid their 2015 BPS funds.  Claims still to be processed include;

  • 5,400 that were inspected
  • 3,500 claimants with Common Land
  • A further 1,000 complex claims which are in the final stages of their processing.

The RPA has now announced that it will be making ‘bridging’ payments to those who will not be paid in full by 30th April.  The payment will be in the region of 50% of what the RPA anticipates the final payment will be.  Payments will be made by the end of April.

For those who require urgent assistance with their cashflow, the RPA has set up a financial hardship process this can be accessed via the RPA helpline on 03000 200 301.  £8m has already been paid out to 505 farmers.

For those who have already been paid, but they believe the payment is incorrect, they need to contact the RPA either by e-mail or letter.  The e-mail address to use is [email protected] and make sure BPS 2015 Payment is in the subject line; include the SBI number and the business name.  The RPA has said it will not look over these until the summer, but experience shows that the more information you give to help them, it is less likely that your e-mail will go to the ‘bottom of the pile’.

2016 BPS

Meanwhile, 14,400 2016 online applications had been made as of 20th April and a further 2,300 via paper.  In our experience, although the online system can be a little slow at times and a bit clumsy, it is working.  There have been a few rumours about an extension to the deadline.  Currently only one Member State has requested this from the EU Commission (a decision has not yet been made), but even if an extension was permitted, the RPA do not seem likely to take this up, as it means the validating window is shortened and this in turn has a knock on effect in delays in payment, as seen this year; continue to work on a 16th May deadline.

There is a plethora of guidance from the RPA this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bps-2016 this includes links to continuation booklets, RLE1 forms & guidance, land use codes as well as the main BPS guidance and how to apply online.  There is also a Hints and Tips booklet which has been produced from the questions that farmers and agents have been asking the RPA.  This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/517332/BPS_2016_hints_and_tips_v3.0.pdf.  Below we have also listed some pointers which you may find useful:

  • You may wish to add land, but this cannot be done via the transferor transferring it to you.  This includes cases where fields have dropped-off the forms for no apparent reason.  It is possible to e-mail the RPA at [email protected] with 2016 add land in the subject box and include the SBI, business name, a contact name & number and the field parcel(s) you wish to add.
  • Be careful when entering hedges.  Hedges only have to be included if they are required for EFA.  They are entered in the Land Use section and will automatically filter through to the EFA Part D (Greening).  But if ‘hedge’ is typed in the Land Use section three codes come up; BF02, BF11 and BF12.  Do not use BF02 this is not a 2016 code.  BF11 is used for the half of the hedge which is eligible in that land parcel.  BF12 is used, for adjacent hedges.  This is where both sides of the hedge are under the claimant’s control but where one half of the hedge is in a parcel which is not arable land i.e where the hedge runs between an arable field and a permanent grassland parcel, or woodland etc.  If a hedge runs between two arable fields you claim for each half of the hedge (BF11) in the appropriate land parcel.
  • When inputting information in the Land Use section it can be helpful to check the land in the Land Viewer but it can be a bit clumsy toggling two and from the different screens.  It is possible to have two browser windows open (or more) for the same business making this a little easier.
  • When updating the Land Use section the screen goes back to the top of the list after you have inputted data.  If you use the filter option at the top of the page you can limit how big your list is, so it is much easier to use.  If you have a complicated field with a number of land uses in it is possible to just filter on a land parcel.  But even if you just filter on a sheet, this makes the screen more manageable.
  • Remember it is not possible to have a paper and an online application ‘running’ at the same time.  If you have received a paper form and wish to make an online application you will need to phone the RPA on 03000 200 301 to request this.  There is now a 24 hour automated service to do this, you just need the SBI number.  But once the online application has been requested you cannot submit a paper application without requesting this with the RPA.
  • Entitlement transfers are automatic unless the transferor has not been paid. 
  • If land has been given up/taken out of agricultural production and is not being transferred to another business you can transfer this out to a ‘dummy’ SBI; 200116651 this will be called ‘remove land from the holding’.
  • Land that is coded as fallow, catch crops/cover crops or crop codes which are eligible as nitrogen fixing crops will automatically be used towards the businesses EFA.  In some circumstances the areas may need reducing or removing.  Where an area EFA i.e. fallow, catch/cover or nitrogen fixing crop has an EFA hedge also in that field, the area needs reducing by 2.5m2 for every m length of EFA hedge.  Also as the fallow period for EFA is different to the Crop Diversification (CD) period, some may only be using fallow for their CD requirements and therefore this fallow land will need to be removed from their EFA.  Both of these are done in the ‘Applications’ section.  It is found in the ‘Make changes to my application’ in ‘Apply for BPS’

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