Payments are currently being processed as applications are cleared across four schemes.

The latest rollout of payments came this week under the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP).

Payments totalling €2m were made to 3,134 farmers on Tuesday, with Minister Creed announcing that regular pay runs will take place over the coming weeks to get payments to farmers quickly after herds are cleared for payment.

A payment of €40 will be made on each eligible cow-calf unit that has a weight recorded with the ICBF before next week’s closing date of 1 November.

Basic Payment Scheme

The latest Department of Agriculture payments update on 18 October reports €747.49m paid to 114,401 farmers. This leaves 7,258 farmers left to receive payment.

The initial payment constitutes 70% of a farmer’s overall payment, with balancing payments set to take place in December.

ANC

Payments under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) commenced in mid-September, with €168.5m paid to 79,000 farmers. As of 18 October, this figure has increased to €186.93m paid to 87,233 farmers.

A significant contributor to delayed payments is where farmers have not yet met the minimum stocking rate of at least 0.15LU/ha over the calendar year and a minimum stocking rate of 0.15LU/ha over seven consecutive months.

This year’s ANC payment differs to previous years in that there is a split payment. An advance of 85% was paid in the first instalment, with the balance due in December.

Knowledge Transfer

The Knowledge Transfer (KT) scheme concluded earlier this year. A replacement scheme with an immediate start date was ruled out recently by the Department.

Payments commenced for poultry and equine applicants in early October and have been rolled out since to beef, dairy, sheep and tillage participants.

The Department payment update shows €5m paid to 8,143 participants. This leaves in the region of 10,000 participants to receive payments.

The level of payment is €750 where all measures have been completed, with a payment of €1,250 paid to those participating in two schemes.

Facilitator payments are not reported as having commenced yet.

Remaining payments

The Department recently reported there will be advance payments made for both the Green Low-carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS) and the Sheep Welfare Scheme commencing in November. Both of these will be 85% of the total payment, an increase on previous years.

In December, there will be advance payments for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Organic Farming Scheme. Payments under the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme will also be made in December.