FARMERS have been urged to do all they can to submit error-free applications to join the new Entry Level Scheme.

Strutt & Parker says Defra will accept applications for the scheme only on land already registered on the Rural Land Register digital maps.

Rob Close, an environmental scheme specialist at Strutt & Parker's Northallerton office, said: "Incorrect digital maps will delay acceptance and, ultimately, subsidy receipts."

He believes, however, that it is the only issue which may cause major delays in the system. The Rural Payments Agency says it has about 97pc of land on the Rural Land Register, so is confident most farmers will have their maps when they apply.

Ordinarily, the ELS will have four application windows a year - at the end of March, June, September and December. For this year only, the first deadline will be May 31. Accepted agreements will begin on August 1. Although the scheme has been launched, farmers could not get pre-filled application forms and maps of their farms yesterday, and cannot apply on-line until after Easter.

Half the payment is due six months from the start date and half after the first year. Farmers applying in the first wave should receive £15/ha next February, when their SFP cash is also due.

It was vital to cashflow that people applied as soon as possible, said Mr Close.

All farmers are eligible to join the ELS, which offers £30/ha on top of their SFP in return for environmental protection and enhancement work on their land, and provided they accumulate 30 qualification points/ha. The Organic ELS pays £60/ha, and needs 60 points/ha, but 30 will be secured simply by being in organic production.

Mr Close noted that Defra had removed the option for the maintenance of traditional farm buildings, which was previously two points per sq m. There was also no incentive to have six-metre, rather than four-metre, buffer strips, but the buffer strips were in addition to the two-metre strip obligatory for cross compliance. Six-metre buffer strips might mean losing nearer to eight metres of the original cropped land.

Mr Close said: "This is a good scheme. It is an opportunity for extra money that farmers can't afford to miss."