https://ruralpayments.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18/countryside-stewardship-and-environmental-stewardship-revenue-claims-are-open-for-2026/

Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship revenue claims are open for 2026 

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Landscape image of a valley with mountains, a river and fields.

You can now submit your 2026 revenue claim for Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Environmental Stewardship (ES). 

You have until 11.59pm on 15 May 2026 to submit your claim without reduction. 

Countryside Stewardship 

Before you submit your CS claim, please make sure you have updated your land use codes by signing into the Rural Payments service. If you’re unable to access the Rural Payments service, email us at ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk

If you’re a CS agreement holder who submits an annual revenue claim, an annual declaration will be available to you in the Rural Payments service. If there’s no change to your claim from last year, you can submit an automated revenue claim with a single click and without needing to complete each section of the claim form. 

Watch: How to submit a revenue claim using the Rural Payments portal 

If there are any changes to your claim from last year or your agreement includes rotational options, you’ll need to tell us. 

Environmental Stewardship 

If you’re an ES agreement holder, you’ll receive your claim form by either email or post. You need to complete it and return it to us to submit your claim. 

Reductions applied to late claims 

The deadline for submitting your 2026 CS or ES claim without reduction is  11.59pm on 15 May

If you miss this deadline, you still have until  11.59pm on 1 September 2026  to submit a claim, but a reduction will be applied to the value of your claim. The later you submit it, the greater the reduction. 

The reductions will be applied in the following way: 

Date we receive your claim - Reduction applied to claim value


On or before 15 May - no reduction – full value paid 


Between 16 May and 31 May - 5% reduction


Between 1 June and 30 June - 10% reduction


Between 1 July and 1 September - 25% reduction


After 1 September or not received at all - 100% reduction - no claim paid


Read our guidance on GOV.UK for more information on how to make a Countryside Stewardship or Environmental Stewardship revenue claim. 

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