The Government has announced it will make bridging payments to ensure all those who claimed Environmental Stewardship for 2016 or 2017 will have received at least 75% of their payment for those years by the end of September.
A bridging payment is an interest-free loan made in advance of the full-year payment.
Land managers will receive 75% of the current estimated value of their ES revenue claim. When the full payment is processed and made, the amount paid through the bridging payment will be held back.
Where a 50% advance payment has already been made, claimants will receive a 25% top up when bridging payments are made.
Last chance to check your payment details
Letters and emails are being sent to farmers and land managers awaiting payments this week, with a reminder to make sure bank account and contact details on the Rural Payments Service are up-to-date so that bridging payments can be made successfully.
Customers do not need to do anything to receive the payment, as Natural England will check records to identify eligible customers entitled to bridging payments.
Earlier this week, the Agriculture Bill made clear that payment for environmental work was a UK Government priority.
A Government spokesman added: “These payments are important to customers, and an improvement plan to the delivery of Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship payments is underway, with the Rural Payments Agency taking charge of delivery of both schemes from October 1.”
