On 1 January 2015 the Single Payment Scheme is replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
This will include new Greening measures which are worth 30% of the total payment. Greening comprises:
- Protection of permanent pasture – this will not affect the majority
- Crop Diversification
- Ecological Focus Areas – the requirement is 5% of your arable defined land
Exemptions for Greening are as follows:
- If you are registered Organic
- If more than 75% of your total eligible agricultural area is down to grass, temporary and permanent and the remaining arable area less than 30 hectares