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The chair of the agricultural consultants’ association, David Rankin, has urged farmers not to leave their single application form to early May, but to make early contact with their agent.
Given concerns about coronavirus, he has stopped all appointments to his office, and has advised his members to do the same. Instead 2020 forms, which are due in by 15 May, will be completed by phone and email.
Everyone should start now and make contact with their agents rather than leaving it until the start of May
That potentially creates some logistical issues that will slow the process, especially where there is a change in conacre land, or in meeting greening requirements on arable farms.
“Everyone should start now and make contact with their agents rather than leaving it until the start of May. Those who left it late in previous years are now finding that they have had entitlements confiscated because they did not have the opportunity to lease any unused,” he said.
With changed working arrangements this year, he said that the onus is very much on farmers to ensure that form fillers are supplied with accurate information, particularly relating to the area being claimed, and any ineligible land.
As things develop, it might also be necessary to extend the 15 May deadline
But despite best intentions, Rankin acknowledged that he is unsure whether all forms can be completed by 15 May. As in previous years, land can be added and removed from the single application up to 31 May without penalty.
Rankin has asked DAERA to consider extending this deadline.
“As things develop, it might also be necessary to extend the 15 May deadline,” he suggested.
Earlier this week the EU announced that, following a request from Italy, it will allow member states to move the 15 May deadline out to 15 June.
While NI could probably do the same, the main issue is that it then makes it more difficult to get farmers paid in October.
Stormont passes legislation on 2020 farm payments
Legislation that will allow direct payments to be made to farmers this year passed through the Stormont Assembly chamber on Monday.
The main difference is that NI will be able to make full payments to farmers from 16 October, rather than the 70% advance that was paid in previous years
When compared to the CAP legislation under which payments have previously been paid, there are only some minor technical corrections. The application deadline remains 15 May, and the minimum claim size remains as 3ha.
The main difference is that NI will be able to make full payments to farmers from 16 October, rather than the 70% advance that was paid in previous years.
That was a point emphasised by Agriculture minister Edwin Poots as he closed the Assembly debate, although he did accept that there is uncertainty about payments beyond 2020.
“We have a manifesto pledge from the Conservative Party (to 2024), but what exactly that will be, going forward, has not yet been tied down,” he said.
However, he highlighted that there is also uncertainty for farmers in the EU, and argued that if we were still a full member, then farmers here would be facing a cut to payments in future years as money gradually moves from west to east (to accession countries).
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