A consultation has been launched by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots on proposals to introduce a protein crops payment scheme in NI, starting from 2021.

Largely mirroring a similar scheme in the Republic of Ireland, the NI version will initially be a pilot, so is limited in scope in the first year.

Total funding of £330,000 is available, to be taken from the overall direct payments budget, although the impact of that on other farmers is minimal given that it represents just 0.11% of the NI total.

It is estimated that 153ha of protein crops were grown in 2020.

If this expands beyond 1,000ha in 2021, a linear scaleback will be applied to the determined area, to keep within the budget limit.

Farmers applying for the payment must grow at least 0.3ha of peas, beans or lupins, and these crops must not be harvested until after 31 July 2021.

Applications to the scheme will be via the 2021 Single Application Form, with payments made alongside the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in October 2021.

The BPS and protein crops payment can be claimed on the same parcel of land. However, a dual claim, where one farm business claims BPS and a different business claims the protein payment will not be allowed on the same field parcel.

The pilot scheme will be reviewed at the end of the first year. Responses to the consultation should be made by 15 January 2021.

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