Mid October advance payment pushed

Farmers could receive 50% of their 2007 SFP in mid-October again this year. The Department continues to push for the advance payment and have added the adverse weather conditions to the list of reasons.

In 2006, the majority of farmers received 50% of their SFP on 16 October, getting the remainder after 1 December.

The Department has initially sought to bring forward the complete SFP to mid October. With the EU carrying out a major health check next year, a major change in 2007 was thought to be unlikely. The payment of the Disadvantaged area scheme is still on target to be paid from the 15 September.

Two issues, which could hold this payment up, is if errors in submitted SFP forms are not resolved by the farmers.

The Department continues to write to farmers where problem have arise. The second requirement is to have all the required eligibility inspections carried out. The 6,500 eligibility inspections are ongoing at present.