The European Commission has approved an application from DAERA for the level of advanced CAP payments for NI farmers to be increased from 50% to 70% of claims.

DAERA made the application in early August after European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan announced that 70% advanced payments could be issued by member states to help farmers affected by drought conditions.

“Advance payments will commence on 16 October 2018 and will be made to all eligible farm businesses in Northern Ireland which have fully verified claims. Balance payments, or full payments for those not eligible for an advance payment, will commence from 1 December 2018,” a DAERA statement on Thursday read.

This will be third year in a row that DAERA has been able to issue advanced payments from mid-October, and the third time that the rate has been increased from 50% to 70%.

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