Farmers can receive a 70% Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payment in October instead of the normal 50% in recognition of the current drought, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan announced on Monday.

Advance rate

A higher advance rate of 85% instead of 75% also applies to payments for rural development schemes. Ireland was among the countries requesting this derogation.

Commissioner Hogan said that a repeat of the measure, already used last year, would “help farmers to be able to buy feed and overcome some unforeseen production expenses that they would have at this time of the year due to the weather”.

He also allowed grazing and fodder production for this year on land lying fallow under greening rules.