Around 57,700 farmers, some two thirds of eligible farmers, have now received their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2015 payment, the Rural Payments Agency confirmed today.
The update follows weekend payments to 11,300 customers, totalling £320 million, taking the total amount paid out to farmers in England since the start of December’s payment window to £779 million.
Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency Mark Grimshaw said: “We understand the importance of BPS payments for farmers and our priority has always been to pay as many farmers as quickly as possible.
“The RPA is working seven days a week to get these payments to farmers. A wide range of claim sizes have been paid to small, medium and large sized enterprises across England and in all sectors of the industry and claims will continue to be paid as they are checked and completed.”
The RPA is also urging those customers it has contacted about registration onto the Rural Payments system to do so because payments can only be made to registered farmers.
Commenting on the updated figures and discussion on BPS in the House of Lords today, CLA President Ross Murray said: “As we enter the seventh week of the payment window it is now crucial that the last third of claimants receive outstanding payments of all sizes and complexities as quickly as possible. We continue to encourage the RPA to ensure that outstanding claims are processed as swiftly. If individual payments must be delayed then it is vital that claimants are given notice.
