The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application window has opened
today (12 March) for farmers to claim for their 2020 payments.
Farmers are being encouraged to apply as soon as they are able,
to ensure applications are submitted ahead of the deadline of 15
May without penalty.
The claim window for customers with existing Countryside
Stewardship (CS) and
Environmental Stewardship (ES) revenue agreements has
also opened today (12 March). Farmers, land managers and
foresters are also encouraged to submit their claim for 2020
payment as soon as they are able to ahead of the 15 May deadline.
All applicants can quickly update their personal and business
information by applying through the Rural Payments
Service, where farmers and their agents can also view and
transfer their entitlements and land parcels.
As the UK has now left the EU, all BPS payments will be made in
Sterling, starting from the 2020 BPS scheme year. The change
will make no difference to the timing of BPS 2020 payments which, along
with CS revenue
and ES2020
payments, will begin from December 2020.
The Government has confirmed the level of funding available
for BPS Direct Payments for 2020
is the same as for 2019 and it intends to set the exchange rate
at €1 = 0.89092. This is the same as last year so that farmers
will see no material difference in their BPS payments.
Guidance for all customers is available in the ‘How To’ guides
with the BPSguidance 2020.
