One in five farmers faced reductions to declared land parcels under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and potential penalties as a result of land eligibility inspections last year.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture seen by the Irish Farmers Journal show that while the number of overall inspections was marginally up to 7,403 from 7,101 in 2016, the number of farmers facing land and/or payment reductions increased by 60%.

Land eligibility inspections determine if land is suitable for agricultural use. Poaching, over-grazing or burning out of season can all lead to a reduction in the size of a land parcel submitted for payments including BPS and Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC).

Some 1,058 farmers faced a reduction of less than 3% or 2ha to their land parcels, which marked a 64% jump from 2016. These farmers did not see any monetary penalty, bar the reduction to their eligible land parcel.

An additional 287 farmers faced reductions and penalties for over-claiming 3% to 10%, marking a 50% increase.

Some 137 farmers faced more severe reductions and penalties for over-claiming on more than 10% of their land – a 59% spike in the previous year.

Overall, inspections included 6,507 satellite inspections – a marginal 5% increase on 2016 – and 896 ground inspections were carried out, up from 895 in 2016.

Some 5% of farms have to be inspected every year under the Department land eligibility rules.

Cross compliance

In contrast, the number of farmers falling foul of cross-compliance inspections facing financial penalties dropped by 25%.

In total, 5,972 cross-compliance inspections were carried out last year, up from the 5,941 in 2016. While inspections were up, 1,384 farmers faced monetary sanctions, down from 1,838 the year before.

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy criticised the “over onerous inspection and penalty regime”.

He said: “The increase in eligibility penalties is disappointing and the fact that the cross compliance is down is no consolation to those farmers whose payments were reduced. “

IFA is seeking an overhaul of the inspection regime in the next CAP “where member states will have more discretion to introduce a close-out system”. This would mean farmers who have a problem at inspection are given an opportunity to rectify within a specified period.

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