The Department of Agriculture has written to farmers outlining its target dates for starting payments under various schemes.

The dates are as follows:

Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)

Payments commenced last week and will continue over the coming weeks under the ANC scheme. Some farmers have yet to reach the annual average stocking density of 0.15LU/ha for 2018 and their files will be cleared for payment as they reach this threshold between now and year-end.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening

Advance payments for both BPS and Greening, at a 70% rate, are due to start from 16 October as files are cleared.

Payments will continue on a rolling basis and files will be paid once cleared. Payment of the 30% balance will commence from the start of December 2018.

National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme

Payments under these schemes will begin immediately after the BPS balancing payment is made in early December 2018.

Knowledge Transfer Scheme

Under the Knowledge Transfer Scheme, payments are to commence from the end of October 2018.

GLAS, AEOS, Sheep Welfare Scheme

All advance payments under these schemes are to commence from November 2018.

Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and Protein Aid

Under the BDGP and Protein Aid Scheme, payments are to commence in December 2018.

TAMS

Payments are being made year-round on receipt of approved payment claims.

The IFA met with the Department of Agriculture this month asking that payments be made on time, given the weather difficulties of 2018.

"We were assured that everything is in order to meet the payment deadlines under the Charter of Farmers' Rights," deputy president Richard Kennedy said.

Read more

Almost €200m in ANC payments to land in farmers' bank accounts

Good week/bad week: the winners and losers in Irish farming