Guidance

Rural Payments Agency key dates 2023 (HTML version)

Updated 17 August 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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Basic Payment Scheme

  • 1 January 2023: BPS 2023 scheme year begins
  • 14 March 2023: BPS applications open
  • 15 May 2023 (midnight): deadline for BPS 2023 applications without penalty (including Young and New Farmer applications). Deadline to transfer entitlements without penalty
  • 9 June 2023 (midnight): deadline for late BPS 2023 applications (with penalty) and for making changes without penalty to a BPS application already submitted by midnight on 15 May
  • 31 December 2023: BPS 2023 scheme year ends
  • from 1 August 2023: RPA makes advance BPS 2023 payments
  • 1 December 2023 to 30 June 2024: RPA makes final BPS 2023 payments

Lump Sum Exit Scheme

  • throughout 2023 and 2024: RPA makes Lump Sum Exit Scheme payments
  • 31 May 2024 (midnight): deadline to return Lump Sum Exit Scheme evidence

Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship claims

  • 14 March 2023: CS revenue claim declarations and ES revenue claims open
  • 15 May 2023 (midnight): deadline for CS revenue claim declarations and ES revenue claims without reduction. Deadline to transfer entitlements
  • 31 August 2023 (midnight): deadline for late CS revenue claim declarations and ES revenue claims (with reduction), and for making changes to a CS revenue claim declaration that was submitted before midnight on 15 May (without reduction)
  • 1 December 2023 to 30 June 2024: RPA makes CS and ES 2023 payments
  • ES Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and CS capital claims can be submitted all year

Countryside Stewardship applications

Higher Tier

  • 7 February 2023: applications open
  • 28 April 2023: deadline for applications
  • September 2023 to December 2023: agreement offers are sent out

Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers

  • 21 March 2023: applications open
  • 15 September 2023: deadline for applications
  • September 2023 to December 2023: agreement offers are sent out

Open all year for applications

  • Countryside Protection (from 5 January 2023)
  • Capital Grants (from 5 January 2023)
  • Higher Tier Capital Grants (from 5 January 2023)
  • Woodland Tree Health
  • Woodland Management Plan
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