More than half of BPS 2015 claims submitted as deadline approaches

Over 50 percent (44,800) of completed Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications have now been received by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) - but with two weeks remaining farmers are urged to submit their BPS 2015 applications as soon as possible.

Ahead of the 15 June deadline for BPS claims, farmers still have time to post their application. Alternatively, they can take it to one of the RPA’s 50 drop-in centres where an advisor can carry out a basic check and issue a receipt. The check will ensure applicants have included their Single Business Identifier (SBI) number, land data, filled in the active farmer section and signed the declaration.

If a farmer has given an agent permission to act on their behalf they should check if forms have been sent to the agent first.

In addition, anyone attending the North Sheep event in Cumbria on 3 June, or the Royal Cornwall Show from 4-6 June, can visit the RPA stand to hand in their BPS application or register on the Rural Payments system.

The RPA will also be at the Cereals show in Lincolnshire from 10-11 June together with Natural England who will be on hand to answer questions about Environmental Stewardship agreements and the new Countryside Stewardship scheme.