The Department of Agriculture released a statement on Friday 10 July reminding farmers to respond to any notifications received on the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

The Department says that prompt progress will advance issues in advance of the 16 October payment date.

In previous years, query notifications were sent by post.

The Department explains that in 2020 a certain number of query notifications will be issued via email to a farmer’s approved agricultural adviser or by text message to farmers who have signed up to the Department’s SMS service.

Efficient manner

Farmers who are not signed up to the SMS service or those who do not have an authorised adviser will continue to receive postal notifications.

The Department says “this change will help to ensure BPS applications can be processed in an efficient manner as the Department continues to respond to COVID-19-related restrictions”.

Where a farmer receives such a notification, they can log on to the agfood.ie facility to see full details of the issue.

Where farmers wish to speak with a Department official, they can do so by calling the direct payments helpline at 076-106 4420.