More than 130,000 farmers had submitted their BPS application by Monday's deadline, with online submissions on track to reach the 100% target next year, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said.
Department of Agriculture staff member Claire Bryan assists farmer Columba Conlon at the Drumshanbo BPS online clinic in Co Leitrim last month. \ Brian Farrell
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In a statement issued this Tuesday, Minister Creed said he was “greatly encouraged by the very significant number of farmers applying online for their basic payment this year”. According to Department of Agriculture figures, more than 113,600 farmers applied electronically, or 13,000 more than last year. This represents 87% of all applications, ahead of the EU target of 75% for this year.
However, this leaves nearly 17,000 farmers to convert from paper-based applications ahead of next year’s EU deadline to move all BPS paperwork online.
Preliminary checks
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Citing the availability of preliminary checks allowing penalty-free corrections of errors for online applicants this year, Minister Creed said: “In advance of the EU requirement that 100% of applications are online in 2018, my Department will continue to work with farmers, farm bodies and agricultural advisers to ensure that the continued roll-out of online BPS application will deliver real benefits for farmers in a way that ensures that access to this vital support is not impeded.”
This year marks a decade since online applications were introduced for the then Single Farm Payment.
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In a statement issued this Tuesday, Minister Creed said he was “greatly encouraged by the very significant number of farmers applying online for their basic payment this year”. According to Department of Agriculture figures, more than 113,600 farmers applied electronically, or 13,000 more than last year. This represents 87% of all applications, ahead of the EU target of 75% for this year.
However, this leaves nearly 17,000 farmers to convert from paper-based applications ahead of next year’s EU deadline to move all BPS paperwork online.
Preliminary checks
Citing the availability of preliminary checks allowing penalty-free corrections of errors for online applicants this year, Minister Creed said: “In advance of the EU requirement that 100% of applications are online in 2018, my Department will continue to work with farmers, farm bodies and agricultural advisers to ensure that the continued roll-out of online BPS application will deliver real benefits for farmers in a way that ensures that access to this vital support is not impeded.”
This year marks a decade since online applications were introduced for the then Single Farm Payment.
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