THE Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has now issued all pre-populated BP5 application forms.

Anyone who has not received their form, either by email or post, should contact the helpline on 03000 200 301. A form will then be printed out and posted within 48 hours.

The RPA has now received almost 8,500 completed applications.

Commons claimants

Pre-populated forms were this week sent to 4,000 customers who are expected to claim BPS 2015 on common land. They should arrive in the next few days.

Guidance for this specialist group can be found online at GOV.UK/rpa/bps with paper copies due to be sent out shortly.

The RPA urged anyone claiming common land to carefully check Part C of their application form.

If the RPA has included common land in Part C the claimant should remove it by putting an ‘X’ in column C9 and make sure all the common land grazing rights they want to claim BPS for are included in Part E of their application form.

Justin Chamberlain, RPA customer director, encouraged claimants to complete their application as soon as possible and not wait until the June 15th deadline.

He said: "We have a range of support available if farmers need help, such as through our helpline, or at any of the 50 support centres across the country, to ensure farmers and their agents get the help and advice they need to make their claims."

Receipts

The RPA will issue receipts to applicants who have posted their BP5 forms within 48 hours of a form being received.

RPA mobile support units will visit Skipton mart on Monday, May 18, and Wednesday, May 27.

ends.