The Department of Agriculture's online application system for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is now open at www.agfood.ie, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced this Wednesday. This is one month earlier than last year.
The application also covers the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme as well as the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme. The Department estimates the National Reserve fund for this year to be in the region of €3.5m. It will be targeted at educated young farmers and new entrants to farming.
Farmers and advisors have until 15 May to submit their application, which must now be done online in all cases.
"I am aware that for some people, this will be the first year that they will have engaged with the online applications process. To help farmers to submit their application online in 2018, I have ensured the early opening for the BPS application facility," Minister Creed said.
Farmers will receive a BPS information pack containing the terms and conditions of the scheme and land details in the coming days – but no paper application forms.
The Department will hold clinics around the country and has opened the following support telephone lines:
Online applications allow Department officials to perform preliminary checks and advise farmers of errors in time to make changes, avoiding penalties later on. Around 8,000 farmers received such alerts last year.
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