Payments will be made in full in July to eligible farmers in
agri-environment schemes who are still waiting to be paid, the
government has confirmed today (19 June).
Farmers and land managers in Environmental Stewardship (ES) and
Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements do important work to
protect the countryside. However, a significant number of
agreement holders have not yet received full payment for work
they have undertaken.
ES and CS customers with unpaid annual revenue claims, some
dating back to 2015, will receive a payment for the full amount
they are owed by the end of July.
This is a Treasury-funded payment, which will be made to farmers
and land managers while their annual revenue claims from the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget are processed.
RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell said:
“Today we are announcing that outstanding revenue claims for
agri-environment schemes will be paid in full.
“We are determined to build on the improvements that we have
already put in place, keep up a regular cycle of timely payments,
and restore confidence in these schemes which are so important
for our environment.”
The RPA is writing to all unpaid customers this week to provide
an update on payments. Once individual claims have been
processed, the RPA will write again to customers to confirm any
adjustments to be made to the final payment.
Taking land out of production for species-rich meadows, building
ponds to provide a water source for wildlife, or planting trees
for carbon sequestration are a few of the options under ES and CS
that farmers and land managers are currently paid for.
The future Environment Land Management (ELM) scheme, which will
replace CS and ES once we leave the EU, will undergo tests and
trials with farmers and industry groups before being rolled out.
It is expected to be fully operational in late 2024.
