All applications have to be lodged online this year and any farmer who has not made an arrangement in this regard should contact the Department of Agriculture helpline in Portlaoise on 076-106 4424.

The deadline to submit a BPS application for the 20,000 farmers who have yet to do so is midnight Tuesday 15 May.

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said the BPS application is absolutely critical for all farmers, as it is the basis of making a claim under all other schemes, including ANC, BDGP, Sheep Welfare Scheme, GLAS and organics.

Call for extension

Fianna Fáil spokesperson for agriculture Charlie McConalogue has called for the deadline for applications to be extended.

“Consideration must be given by the Department to the fact that this is the first year that BPS applications must be made online,” he said. “Consideration also needs to be taken of the recent pressures placed on farming families as a result of the fodder crisis, which may also have prevented some farmers from focusing on making their application until now.”

The EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has confirmed that there is flexibility for member states to extend the deadline for applications.

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