Know How / BPS

We bring you the latest news on the delivery of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

See updates and advice on how to apply for the BPS, discover how to avoid some of the common problems which could hold up your claim and track payment progress as the year progresses.

Advice and tips

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Delinked payments: Information statements explained

Farmers in England should now all have received a delinked payments information statement, the details of which need to be checked over and followed up on before the end of…

BUSINESS

Delinked payments: Advice on transfers, land sales, and FBTs

Delinked payments will replace Basic Payment Scheme income in England next year. The RPA is gearing up to send out delinked payments information statements to eligible former BPS claimants. These…

TAX

Loss of BPS value could cut CGT bill on other assets

BPS 2023 claims in England must be made by midnight on 15 May. After this, entitlements will have no value and will no longer be tradeable. Those who bought, were…

BPS

BPS claims: Hints and tips for 2023

The Basic Payment Scheme scheme may be well-established, but there are always aspects with the potential to trip up applicants. As the deadline for applications in all regions approaches on…

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Case studies

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

How the Monitor farms plan to restructure to fill BPS gap

Making significant savings and finding other income streams are the two top priorities for the four East Midlands Monitor Farms, as they plan for the post-Brexit future. The loss of…

BPS

How a Sussex arable farmer is preparing for the ELM scheme

Taking 16% of his arable land out of production and introducing measures which will improve the farm’s natural capital are how West Sussex grower Mark Chandler is preparing his arable…

ARABLE

Future of subsidies: Collaborate to cope with lower support

In the second of our series on coping with lower subsidies, David Jones talks to one arable farmer, who is also chairman of his local grain co-operative, about his long-term plans…

ARABLE

Future of subsidies: Rely on contractors and diversify crops

In the first of a series of articles on how to cope with an expected lower level of subsidy, we talk to a Cambridgeshire grower who is preparing for life…

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Insights

ELM

Analysis: Time for a closer look as SFI opens for business

With the latest iteration of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) due to open for applicants on Monday (18 September), a growing number of farmers in England will be asking themselves…

ELM

Analysis: What Defra’s ELM update means for farmers

Six years in the making, it is finally here. Defra has given farmers in England much-needed clarity on how it plans to support them to deliver environmental outcomes which underpin…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

LFA and 'coupled' supports at risk in Scottish policy plans

Money paid to Scottish farmers in the form of less favoured area (LFA) support and as “coupled” aid to suckler beef and upland sheep producers must be retained as direct…

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News

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Hundreds of farmers unite in anger at Welsh SFS proposals

Hundreds of farmers have come together for a crunch meeting to discuss the future of farming in Wales amid intensifying anger against Welsh government policy plans. Organisers said about 1,100…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Hill farmers still ‘shortchanged’ by latest Defra offer

Defra has been accused of “short-changing” hill farmers in England again with its latest offer for the uplands and moorlands under Environmental Land Management (ELM). NFU data show that upland…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

RPA opens BPS query window and introduces delinked payments

As  the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) draws to a close at the end of 2023 in England, to be replaced by "delinked" payments in 2024, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)…

BUSINESS

RPA issues payments update for farmers in England

The Rural Payments Agency has confirmed that 97% of eligible farmers in England have received their final BPS 2023 payment. So far, more than 91,000 applications have been completed across…

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Opinion

BPS

Opinion: What farmers need from Brexit

While breakfasting at my local agricultural show, I find myself sat next to a well-respected land agent (if that is not a contradiction in terms).   As we munched our way through…

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Video

ARABLE

Video: Farmers have their say on future of subsidies

A large majority of farmers have been reacting positively to future subsidy decline, with over three-quarters saying they have a plan for their business to cope with less support after…

BPS

Record numbers apply online for BPS 2016

A record number of English farmers and landowners submitted their 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications online, the Rural Payments Agency has said. More than 85,500 of an estimated 87,500…

BPS

RPA guidance on filling out your 2016 BPS application

With the application window for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme now open, the RPA has reported a reasonable uptake of its online service. Figures to 30 March show that more than 2,000 applications have been…

RPA releases video guide on BPS 2016

The Rural Payments Agency has produced a short video explaining how farmers and landowners can get their applications under way for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme. The agency announced on…

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