Farmers involved in both tranches of the BDGP are required to submit an initial carbon navigator for their farm with the help of an approved adviser. Every year after this, they are then required to provide data for an annual update of their carbon navigator.

For the approximately 23,700 farmers that are involved in the first tranche of the BDGP, the deadline to have their update to the carbon navigator submitted is 1 November 2017.

In figures released to the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department has stated that, to date, only 9,259 of these farmers have submitted their update. This leaves a substantial 14,440 farmers who have yet to submit their update over. They have two weeks if they are to comply with the conditions of the scheme.

Not submitting the carbon navigator on time will result in a 10% reduction being applied to a participant’s payment, while they will also be hit with a 10% penalty.

For those involved in the second tranche, only 528 participants have, as of yet, submitted their initial carbon navigator. This leaves approximately 1,200 participants who still have to complete the carbon navigator. For these farmers, if the initial carbon navigator is not completed on time, the penalty is removal from the programme.

The carbon navigator quantifies environmental gains which can be made on each applicant’s farm by setting targets such as grazing season length, fertiliser use and slurry spreading.

BDGP II training

Those involved in the second tranche of the BDGP have until 31 October 2017 to complete a training course on the programme, if they are yet to do so.

Applicants will be paid €166 to cover the costs associated with participation in the programme by the training provider upon completion of the course.

Applicants who do not complete the training by the deadline will be removed from the programme, according to the terms and conditions of the scheme.

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