Control mechanisms introduced last year on applications to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Young Farmers’ Payment and Regional Reserve will continue to be implemented by DARD in the 2016 scheme year, a department spokesperson has said in a statement.

In particular, checks will be carried out to assess that applications to the Regional Reserve and Young Farmers’ Payment are from separate and independent farm businesses.

Businesses need to be able to demonstrate separateness in terms of legal status, operational arrangements, economic structure and commercial arrangements. Operational arrangements relate to elements such as livestock, feed, fertiliser, housing and handling facilities. Machinery also falls under this list, however some sharing of machinery is permitted as long as one business is not “highly dependent” on another.

Associated herds

Last year, issues with herds and flocks associated with more than one farm business resulted in letters being sent to around 3,000 farmers in NI asking them to demonstrate how businesses are separate or else for them to merge.

Likewise, merging businesses with associated herds was recommended by DARD this week if required for the 2016 scheme year. “It is possible to have more than one herd or flock number under one business ID and payments received from DARD can be divided among partners as they decide,” the spokesperson said.

Checks

DARD have also said that a number of checks will be carried out on existing farm businesses to assess that they are genuinely separate as well as checks on those setting up a new farm business when applying for a business ID number.

“For a genuinely separate new farm business, this approach should not cause concern as they will be able to provide evidence that they are separate businesses with relative ease,” the spokesperson added.

The deadline for applications to the Young Farmer Payment and Regional Reserve is 15 April. Applications for these schemes can be received up to the deadline for BPS applications on 16 May. However, DARD has said this may cause delays to applications.