The NFU contributed to the drafting of the advice, which you can read here.
The deadline for 2017 BPS applications is 15 May.
What does this guide cover?
The 24-page document covers a number of issues and focuses on two crucial areas – reminders around the rules causing farmers concerns this year and clarifications about some of the issues experienced by those filling in and submitting the forms, such as IT glitches. Hints and tips include advice on:
Applying for BPS 2017 where there is an outstanding 2015 / 2016 issue and what approach to take to completing the form (the need for a payment query form if you are concerned about outstanding 2015 issues or have a new 2016 payment /claim issues).
Signing into the Rural Payments Service
A reminder is given on the process to get on and where there could be problems with both RPA and Verify access routes. There are claimants who have not gone on to apply yet. There is also a reminder about old Orange email addresses being closed down and what to do.
Checking your information
This includes a reminder about permission levels in order to access data and submit claims and also that revised guidance on permissions for 2017 is available online, here.
Land / Commons
A reminder that farmers with more than 15ha of arable land (and not exempt) need to have EFA on at least 5% of the total arable land. Information is also given on split commons rights and how they should be entered, and there’s information on the New Forest approach to claiming.
Entitlements
The RPA has warned that online entitlement data may not be up to date. There is also the ability to transfer entitlements online, even if a farmer has already submitted the request via a paper RLE1 form for 2017. However, you need to tell the RPA to withdraw the earlier RLE1 form. There is a reminder about entitlement usage too.
Checking maps land cover status and data
Land use (crop coding) changes land cover, but does not happen instantly on the online system. Also remember that land cover can be changed via a paper form, by changing crop coding. The RPA has reminded farmers about changing mapping details on the application form and via RLE1 form, if needed. If 2016 RLE1 changes were not made and no ‘!’ icon is shown, the RPA says to re-submit the changes via old or new RLE1 with supporting documents. There’s also information about incorrect parcel merging.
Greening Calculator
A reminder about its limitations and what certain online messages mean.
Adding land / Dual Use / Removing land
A reminder of the rules for online users is provided in an updated form.
Transferring entitlements
Key elements, forms and active farmer status.
Checking activation of land has been done correctly
The key message is to check the ‘Active Less BPS area’ section on the online claim to ensure land activated in the Land Use tables for payment is correct. The trick is to check under the ‘Apply for (C8) column within the ‘Active Less BPS’ area section as stated.
Declarations and Active Farmer questions
A reminder to check they are completed.
Confirmation of information
A reminder is given about updating online claims by generating new Application Summary and then checking them prior to submission. Also on keeping a copy of the claim submitted is stated, plus getting supporting documents to the RPA by 15 May.
Young Farmer Scheme Application Evidence
Finally, there is clarification given on what evidence needs to be provided by those applying for this top-up payment, what information can be re-submitted from earlier years and what needs to be provided to the RPA to avoid failing the rules – covering letter, form completion as well as certificate from accountant or solicitor.