Anna Logan is our BPS adviser.
She writes:
More of our staff blogs...
Phil Bicknell is the NFU's head of food and farming - Why farmers understand the danger of deflation
John Royle, NFU chief livestock adviser - Blog: Time and tactics for better returns on lamb
European Policy Adviser Richard Potts - Dealing with volatility in dairy markets
Bethan Williams is the Campaign for the Farmed Environment's project officer - Making greening work for YOUR farm
This isn’t just because the form is different. There is additional work for you to do, such as including ineligible features which aren’t already mapped (remember to submit an RLE 1 for these). You’ll also need to ensure you have worked out your greening obligation correctly and made sure you fully understand the rules.
To help you the RPA has produced a greening workbook as well as a worked example on how to complete your BP5 form, which can be found here.
Remember any land on which you wish to claim BPS must be eligible for the full year and be at your disposal on 15 May.
When you have completed your application and double checked that you are happy with it, then you have to decide how it reaches the RPA. At this late stage, hand delivery will be the safest option (especially given the RPA are taking up to ten days to turn around receipts for posted forms). Not only will the RPA staff do a basic check of your form, but you will be given a receipt as evidence it has been submitted. RPA have 50 drop in centres, along with various mobile units that will be touring England. Find out where your nearest drop in centre is here, but remember that the opening times vary, so make sure you check.
Avoiding errors
The key is to get the form correct before you arrive, as the RPA only check that you have signed the form, ticked the active farmer box and ensured at least one line has been filled in Part C and an SBI number is on the documents. These points are also showing as the common errors seen by the RPA when they are checking forms received by post.
If you have already submitted your form, make sure you keep the receipt in a safe place. If you posted your form, the receipt as already mentioned should arrive around 10 days after the RPA received it. If you were a ‘straightforward claim’, and had the option to submit via the email from the RPA, you would have seen an on-screen receipt, which you would need to print and keep for your records.
If you have any problems, urgently contact the RPA on 03000 200 301.
We are constantly updating our FAQs on NFU Online. If you have a question, which isn’t listed on that web page, call NFU Callfirst on 0370 8458458.
Claiming ELS / HLS
Finally, please remember that if you have not yet submitted your annual claim for ELS/HLS, the deadline is the same as for BPS (15 June). The claim forms need to be submitted on time to receive agri-environment payments. Please remember that these claim forms need to be go by post or email to Natural England - they cannot be dropped off at the RPA drop in centres.