Advance payments rise to 114,000 as balance becomes due on 1 December

The number of farmers paid their basic payment advance was boosted by 5,000 to 112,784 last week.

This included a large number of farmers who had their applications held up with transfer and private contract clause issues.

Another payment run this weekend should clear over 1,000 farmers, bringing the numbers paid up to 114,000.

While processing will continue, the payment focus switches to the balance of payments due out on 1 December.

Farmers already paid will get the 27% still due to them, while farmers not yet paid who have been processed will get 97% of their payment.

The remaining 3% is held back until 2016 when all entitlements will be finally balanced.

The farmers still to be paid are a combination of dual claims, over-claims and many other complicated issues.

Around 1,900 farmers have got their first ever direct payments under the Scottish Derogation. Another 400 have still to be cleared for payment.

Looking at the ANC, the number of farmers now paid is 82,867, with payments totalling €176.5m.

There are around 102,000 eligible for the payment. Of these, 6,000 have land errors and other issues holding up payments.

Around 13,000 have yet to reach the stocking criteria. Each year, around 5,000 fail or just don’t bother carrying enough stock to receive the payment.

National Reserve

Letters identifying the number and value of entitlements farmers will receive from the National Reserve are still on track to be sent out before the end of the month.

Over 6,000 farmers applied, but over 700 have not responded to repeated requests for information and their application is at risk of being closed.

The message is get your paperwork and details completed this week. One thousand old young farmers will also receive the news.

It looks like there will be enough in the pot to pay all successful applicants up to the 90ha limit under the National Reserve.

Payments will be made to successful farmers from early December.

Around 8,500 farmers who applied for the 25% top-up on up to 90ha will receive their payment shortly afterwards.