Farm compliance calendar at a glance

This calendar organises your key farming compliance deadlines by month and quarter. Use it to plan ahead and avoid missing critical dates.

Tip: Bookmark this page and check it at the start of each month to see what is coming up.

Q1: January - March

January

TB testing - know your window

Your TB test due date depends on your risk area and previous test dates. APHA will notify you, but track this yourself too - overdue testing triggers automatic movement restrictions.

High Risk Area (HRA) testing: Every 6 months
Edge Area testing: Annual or 6-monthly (location dependent)
Low Risk Area testing: Every 4 years
Pre-movement test: Required before moving cattle; farmer pays
Post-movement test: Required for animals from HRA or Edge Area; farmer pays
Routine surveillance tests: Government funded via APHA
Compensation scope: Animal value only; consequential costs not covered

All cattle keepers in England must comply with TB testing requirements. Testing frequency depends on your farm's location within one of three risk areas designated by APHA.

What farmers pay for:

Pre-movement testing (required before selling or moving cattle)
Post-movement testing (for animals arriving from higher-risk areas)
Private veterinary fees for these tests

What government covers:

Routine surveillance testing (every 6 months, annually, or 4-yearly depending on area)
Compensation for slaughtered reactor animals (animal value only)

Costs during a TB breakdown:

If your herd tests positive (a "breakdown"), expect uncompensated costs of £1,000 to £10,000 or more depending on herd size and restriction duration. These costs include movement restrictions preventing sales, additional testing, loss of productivity, and welfare costs for restricted animals. Compensation covers only the market value of slaughtered animals, not consequential business losses.

Bovine TB testing guidance (opens in a new tab)

February

March

Q2: April - June

April

May

June

Prepare for farm inspections

Understand who inspects farms, what triggers inspections, and how to build a good compliance track record.

Q3: July - September

July

August

Delinked payments

Delinked payments (replacing BPS) are paid as a single payment from 1 August each year (the two-instalment advance/balance structure ended after 2024). Maximum payment in 2025 is £7,200; in 2026-27 just £600. Payments end completely in 2027.

Scheme status: Delinked payments (replaced BPS from 2024, after BPS ended on 31 December 2023)
Application required: No - payments automatic based on historical BPS reference amount
2025 payment reductions: 76% cut on first £30,000; 100% cut on amounts above £30,000 (max payment £7,200)
2026/2027 payment reductions: 98% cut on first £30,000; 100% cut on amounts above £30,000 (max payment £600)
Payment schedule (from 2025): Single instalment from 1 August each year
Final payments: 2027 (scheme ends completely - no payments from 2028)

Delinked payments replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) from 2024, after BPS ended on 31 December 2023. These payments are being phased out progressively until 2027, with reductions increasing each year.

No action required - if you received BPS payments historically, delinked payments are calculated and paid automatically. You do not need to apply or maintain land in agricultural condition to receive them.

Progressive reduction rates

Year	First £30,000	Above £30,000	Maximum payment
2024	50% reduction	55-70% banded reduction	No cap (banded reductions)
2025	76% reduction	100% reduction	£7,200
2026	98% reduction	100% reduction	£600
2027	98% reduction	100% reduction	£600
2028	Payments end

Delinked payments - replacing the Basic Payment Scheme (opens in a new tab)

September

NVZ compliance guide

Detailed guidance on closed periods, storage requirements, and record keeping for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.

Q4: October - December

October

November

Bovine TB testing compliance

Testing frequencies by area, pre and post-movement testing, and what to do during a TB breakdown.

December

Year-round compliance tasks

These obligations apply throughout the year, not to specific dates.

Personalise your calendar

Note these farm-specific dates alongside the general calendar:

Quick reference contacts

Related resources

Prepare for farm inspections

Who inspects farms, what triggers inspections, your rights, and how to build a good compliance record.

Farm compliance calendar