From 2021, the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application process is to become simplified as the government plans to end the need to comply with the EU-delivered ‘greening requirements’ and begins the move towards the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).  This means that for next year’s BPS application, applicants will not need to comply with crop diversification or Ecological Focus Area (EFA) requirements, resulting in what we hope to be a more straight forward and less onerous application process.

We understand that these changes will not affect the overall payment received by each farmer as the money will instead be reflected in the BPS entitlement value.

Direct payments are set to be phased out over the next 7 years and be replaced with ELMS which is expected to be rolled out in late 2024. ELMS is a new system that rewards farmers for delivering public goods and creating or restoring habitats for wildlife.

Further details on plans for the agricultural transition period will be set out in Autumn 2020.

We will keep you updated but if you do have any queries, please call Hennie Carter on 01285 883740.