2026 farm payment calendar: know when each payment should land

Most 2026 farm payment dates fall into four periods. ACRES balances arrive in spring, ANC from autumn and BISS-related advances in October. Balances or livestock-scheme payments follow from November into December. Some exact 2026 start dates are not confirmed yet. This calendar separates official dates from planning windows, showing what is fixed and what still needs a DAFM announcement.

::: official-advice-banner Payment dates can change as DAFM completes checks and announces each run. Use this calendar for planning, then confirm your own case in MyAgFood or with DAFM. :::

What are the main farm payment dates for 2026?

These farm payment dates are for cash-flow planning, not a promise that every cleared applicant is paid on the first day. DAFM continues later pay runs as cases pass validation.

The 2026 BISS closing date was 15 May. The no-penalty amendment date was 31 May, the late application deadline was 9 June, and the preliminary-check response deadline was 23 June. A late reply or unresolved parcel issue can push a payment beyond the first run.

The FarmAI BISS hub has the main application and entitlement guides if you need to trace an area-based hold.

Which dates are confirmed and which are estimates?

Three labels in the table matter:

• Confirmed means DAFM published the date for that payment or rule.
• Official scheme window means the scheme page names the month, but DAFM has not announced the exact 2026 pay-run date.
• Planning window uses the established schedule and the previous year's confirmed run. It can help with cash flow, but it is not a guaranteed bank date.

That distinction prevents a common mistake. A previous year's press release is evidence of the normal sequence, not proof that the 2026 payment will start on the same day.

DAFM's BISS page says an advance may be made in October and balancing payments commence in December. As of 15 July, it does not give an exact October start date for the 2026 advance.

When is the 2025 ACRES balance paid in 2026?

DAFM started the 2025 ACRES balancing payment on 15 April 2026. More than 88% of participants were expected to receive it that week. Later claims continued weekly as they cleared checks.

ACRES uses a different rhythm from the main direct payments. DAFM describes it as:

1. An advance worth 85% of the estimated contract value in quarter four of the scheme year.
2. A balancing payment in quarter two of the following year.

That means an ACRES deposit in April 2026 relates to your 2025 scheme year. The advance for the 2026 scheme year is expected in quarter four of 2026, but the exact start date still needs a DAFM announcement.

Our dedicated ACRES payment dates guide explains the common reasons an ACRES balance is held.

When should BISS, CRISS and Eco Scheme money arrive?

For planning, put the BISS and CRISS advance in October and the balance in December. Treat the precise day as unconfirmed until DAFM publishes the pay-run announcement.

CRISS is processed with the main area-based application. The Eco Scheme also depends on the land, agricultural activity and options declared in that application. One parcel query can therefore affect more than one line in your expected payments.

ANC normally begins earlier in the autumn than BISS. However, the current official ANC service page does not give a specific 2026 opening date. Keep “September onward” as a planning window, not a date to promise a merchant or lender.

If the first run passes without your payment, it does not automatically mean the claim has failed. It usually means the case has not cleared every required check for that run. Check MyAgFood before assuming the money is lost.

When are sheep and suckler scheme payments expected?

Livestock scheme payments usually follow completion and validation of the required actions. They do not all share one date.

For the Sheep Improvement Scheme, the 2025 advance began on 24 November 2025 at 85%. That makes late November a reasonable 2026 planning window, but DAFM has not confirmed the 2026 start date.

The 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme gives farmers two action-completion options. The main date is 13 October 2026. Farmers who selected 24 November were warned that payment would not issue until January 2027 at the earliest. The selected date applies to all chosen actions and cannot be changed after application.

For SCEP, the 2025 payment began on 5 December 2025. Use December as the planning window for the 2026 payment until a new announcement appears. Outstanding ICBF or DAFM documents can delay a cleared payment.

Why can a farm payment arrive late?

The most useful first check is not the bank account. It is the correspondence and scheme status in MyAgFood.

Look for:

1. A preliminary or area-monitoring query. A parcel may need a response or supporting evidence.
2. A mismatch between land and entitlements. BISS needs an eligible hectare for each entitlement used.
3. A missing annual claim or declaration. Several schemes depend on the BISS application even when the payment is separate.
4. An incomplete livestock action. Weighing, genotyping, census or welfare evidence may still be outstanding.
5. Bank details or identity checks. An old account or a change in the farm business can stop an otherwise valid payment.
6. A claim awaiting inspection. TAMS and some action-based payments only move after all checks are complete.

Use the DAFM online portal guide if you are unsure where correspondence and application status appear.

What should you do when the first pay run passes?

Take these steps in order:

1. Open MyAgFood and read every unread letter for the scheme.
2. Check whether the application shows a query, amendment or inspection.
3. Ask your advisor which specific validation is open. Get the parcel or action number.
4. Submit the requested evidence through the stated channel and keep the receipt.
5. Contact the relevant DAFM section if the portal and your advisor do not explain the hold.

Write down the date, name and answer for each call. “Still processing” is not enough if the payment is materially late. Ask which check is open and whether DAFM needs anything from you.

Frequently asked questions

When is the BISS payment date in 2026?

DAFM says a BISS advance may be made in October and balancing payments commence in December. The exact opening date for the October 2026 run had not been published by 15 July 2026.

When is the ACRES payment date in 2026?

The 2025 ACRES balancing run began on 15 April 2026. The advance for the 2026 scheme year is due in quarter four, but its exact start date has not yet been confirmed.

When is the ANC payment date in 2026?

Use September onward as a planning window. DAFM had not published an exact opening date for the 2026 ANC run by 15 July. Do not treat a previous year's day as confirmed.

The bottom line

Plan around windows, not rumours. Expect ACRES balance in spring, ANC from autumn and direct-payment advances in October. Balances and livestock schemes follow from November into December. Check the DAFM announcement and your own MyAgFood status before relying on an exact bank date.