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Statistics from the Department of Agriculture show a 44% jump in the number of first-time farmer offenders over-claiming on land parcels last year.
In particular the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC), saw the number of farmers facing a reduction for the first time reach 287 and 235 cases – a 33% and 37% increase respectively from 2016.
The number of young farmers facing a first-time penalty also increased from nine to 11 cases, and the areas of specific constraint for the islands increased from just one case to six cases. The yellow card system is a once-off measure where an over-claim has been made for the first time.
“Where a farmer receives a penalty for an over-declaration for the first-time and the over-declaration does not exceed 10% of the area determined, the penalty is reduced by 50%,” the Department states.
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