FARMERS will benefit from simpler and more proportionate penalties for small over-claims of land under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

This follows measures introduced in March to reduce the paperwork required from young farmers.

Farming Minister, Victoria Prentis said: “This is a small change that will make a big difference to our farmers this year. We will continue to work hard to make claims as straightforward as possible to ensure our farmers don’t get hit with penalties for small over-claims.”

Rural Payments Agency (RPA) Chief Executive, Paul Caldwell, said: "Changes to the way these penalties are calculated will mean farmers will feel the benefit come December when payments are made. Penalties applied for small over-claims of land will be simpler and more proportionate."

If the over-claim is more than two hectares or three percent, but not more than 10 percent, of the area determined, the RPA will apply a penalty. The penalty will be 0.75 times the size of the over-claim. As in previous years, for over-claims of more than 10 percent of the area determined, the penalty will be 1.5 times the size of the over-claim.

There will be no penalty for an over-claim of no more than two hectares or three percent of the area determined.