Farmers in Northern Ireland (NI) will receive 70% of their advance CAP payments from October DAERA confirmed.

NI farmers were due to receive 50% of their advance payment on 16 October but the UFU has been persistently seeking an increased payment. The president of the UFU Barclay Bell, welcomed DAERA's decision to provide farmers with an increase in their payment.

“We pushed hard for this increase in what has been a difficult year for weather-related problems. The prolonged periods of heavy rain, which resulted in serious flooding in some areas, have presented a number of challenges. Cattle have been housed earlier than usual, silage hasn’t been cut, slurry can't be spread and harvest has been delayed. This has put a severe cash flow strain on many farm businesses.”

Payment boost

The drop in sterling and the increased strength of the euro since the Brexit vote last year will also mean a boost in NI farm payments. DAERA has estimated that farmers will see the value of their overall direct payments increase by 5% or £13m.

Farmers in NI currently receive roughly £300m a year in direct farm payments from the EU, with the UK as a whole receiving close to £3bn from CAP annually.

Future of payments

The farm community in the UK have been concerned about the future of subsidy payments after Brexit. Michael Gove, the minister in charge of agriculture in the UK, has promised that farmers will receive a similar level of payment until 2022 after the UK leaves the EU.

The structure of farm payments post-Brexit is likely to change with Michael Gove this week openly denouncing the current model of CAP payment system. He has stated that he intends to implement a ‘‘Green Brexit’’ policy post-Brexit.

The theme of this policy will be to reward farmers who agree to schemes that incorporate elements which protect the environment.

However, no specific information has been given as of yet as to how UK farmers can qualify for these schemes.

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