Over 135,000 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications have been received by the Department at this stage. That’s a jump of over 3,000 compared with last year, when 131,821 were received.

The move to online continues, with total online applications hitting over 93,000 (or 68% of the total), a jump of 13,000 on 2014.

It still leaves around 42,000 farmers who have sent the application in by post.

Late applications continue to trickle in and will be accepted up to 25 June 2015.

Any later than this and the farmer is locked out of establishing entitlements.

Even now, they are being hit with a 4% penalty per working day on the 2015 payment.

Amendments can be made to any element of the form at this stage without penalty. However, this stops once you have been notified of an inspection – which begin next week.

New land parcels can be added without penalty up to 13 June. They can still be added up to 25 June, but a penalty will be incurred.

Scottish derogation

The number of Scottish derogation applications jumped to around 4,000 before the deadline.

It means most of the 6,000 famers who submitted an application in 2013, but did not get direct payments, will start to benefit.

Young Farmer Top-up

The number of young farmers who applied for a top-up will be over 8,000 once all applications are counted.

The top-up of around €62/ha will be paid after 1 December, but these farmers have to ensure all their paperwork is in to make sure they get it.

The Department has started writing to these farmers, many of whom also applied under the National Reserve.

The number of old young farmers who put an application into the National Reserve remained disappointing at around 300.

Organic

There was a big jump in organic applications. Of the 847 applications the Department received online, around 450 to 500 are believed to be new entrants.

The remainder are existing organic farmers who were out of contract in 2013 or 2014. They will all benefit from the higher payments this time round.