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Over 1,800 farm businesses in NI have entered into agreements as part of the second tranche of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).
There has been more farmer update in the second tranche of the scheme compared to the first, with 343 new higher-level agreements and 1,498 new wider-level agreements now live.
That compares to 1,070 wider level agreements and 232 higher level agreements which were agreed under the first tranche of EFS.
The wider level of EFS is for all types of farmland in NI, whereas the higher level is predominantly for land in environmentally designated areas.
Application service
The facility to make claims for higher and wider levels of EFS became available on DAERA’s online Single Application service on Monday.
The department are reminding farmers that all scheme participants across both tranches of EFS must make a claim in 2019. This includes participants in the first tranche who have already completed and received full payment for measures under EFS agreements.
“These participants must indicate that they have maintained the option they were paid for in this and each subsequent year’s Single Application until the end of the agreement period. Failure to claim and/or maintain options may lead to recovery of any monies paid,” a DAERA spokesperson said.
Claims
Claims under EFS can be changed up to 10 June if it becomes apparent that not all the work claimed for can be completed.
After that date, farmers can complete an EFS SAF3 amendment form to reduce claims, although this cannot be used if DAERA have given the farmer notification of a planned inspection.
SHARING OPTIONS: