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Over half of the total number of Single Application Forms (SAF) that DAERA are expecting to receive this year have been submitted to date.
On enquiry, the department said that it has received 13,188 forms with just over two weeks to go until the 15 May application deadline.
“This represents 53% of the total number of applications expected in 2020, and an increase of 23% compared with the same date in 2019,” a DAERA spokesperson said.
The deadline for transferring Basic Payment entitlements is Monday 4 May and 3,115 transfer applications have been submitted so far.
Farmers in NI have been encouraged to complete applications in good time
Although the total number of transfers varies from year to year, there is some evidence to suggest that deals on entitlements have been completed earlier as the number of transfers recorded so far is 19% higher than the same date in 2019.
Farmers in NI have been encouraged to complete applications in good time as social distancing restrictions have stopped face-to-face appointments with DAERA staff and third-party form fillers.
“We are ahead of schedule. Around 70% of our forms have been finalised so far. It is difficult but we are managing our way through it,” said Carrickmore-based agri consultant Mary McCormack.
However, she points out that some DAERA maps are now three years old and it is a lot harder to discuss land eligibility changes with farmers when communicating by phone or email.
Favourable
“In these difficult times I hope the department look at applications favourably and recognise that we are filling out forms to the best of our knowledge,” McCormack said.
Applications received after 15 May are penalised by 1% for each working day that they are late, and 9 June is the final deadline for forms.
We generally want to make as little changes as possible once forms are submitted
As a result of coronavirus restrictions, DAERA has introduced some flexibility this year by allowing applications to be amended without penalties up to 9 June.
“It is a good help, but we generally want to make as little changes as possible once forms are submitted. We don’t like to go over the 15 May deadline,” said Ciaran Kerr from Lurgan-based consultancy firm Farm With Kerr Ltd.
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