Change to BPS ‘removes restrictions’ for farmers with forestry – IFA
Farmers who planted part of their holding from 2009 onwards were required to retain at least 10% of the eligible hectares declared in 2008 in an agricultural activity.
Changes to the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will remove restrictions on farmers with forestry under the direct payment system so farmers can optimise income from their land, according to the IFA.
IFA farm forestry chair Vincent Nally has welcomed the changes which no longer require a farmer to retain 10% of their eligible hectares in an agricultural activity to for the purposes of retaining eligibility for BPS.
“This is a very positive development. It will allow farmers to plant all their land or to lease the land they have not planted and still retain their BPS payment,” he said.
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Planting
Farmers who planted part of their holding from 2009 onwards were required to retain at least 10% of the eligible hectares declared in 2008 in an agricultural activity. This was subject to a minimum area of 3ha, in order to continue to be regarded as an active farmer for the purpose of retaining eligibility for BPS.
Nally said the changes recognise that forestry is a crop like any other crop or enterprise on the farm, and removes restrictions under the direct payment system so farmers can optimise income from their land.
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Changes to the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will remove restrictions on farmers with forestry under the direct payment system so farmers can optimise income from their land, according to the IFA.
IFA farm forestry chair Vincent Nally has welcomed the changes which no longer require a farmer to retain 10% of their eligible hectares in an agricultural activity to for the purposes of retaining eligibility for BPS.
“This is a very positive development. It will allow farmers to plant all their land or to lease the land they have not planted and still retain their BPS payment,” he said.
Planting
Farmers who planted part of their holding from 2009 onwards were required to retain at least 10% of the eligible hectares declared in 2008 in an agricultural activity. This was subject to a minimum area of 3ha, in order to continue to be regarded as an active farmer for the purpose of retaining eligibility for BPS.
Nally said the changes recognise that forestry is a crop like any other crop or enterprise on the farm, and removes restrictions under the direct payment system so farmers can optimise income from their land.
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