Cuts to payments for Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) measures meant that over 100 applicants were no longer eligible for the third tranche of the scheme.

A DAERA spokesperson confirmed that 113 wider level applications have now fallen below the £2,500 minimum scheme agreement threshold as result of the cuts.

Last month, DAERA announced a 20% reduction in the payment for water course stabilisation and the drinking trough pipework payment was cut by almost 50%.

A department spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that the minimum scheme agreement threshold “could not be reduced within the time available” to allow all wider applicants into the fourth tranche of EFS.

The spokesperson said that applicants who lost out will have “prioritised entry” for the fourth tranche of EFS. This is expected to open for applications later this year, although the water course stabilisation measure will not be available.

Meanwhile, EFS claim data should now be available on online Single Application Forms (SAF) for most scheme participants.

Other schemes

Applications for other schemes, such as Basic Payment and Greening, have been accessible since early March and DAERA has been pressing farmers to complete their SAF early due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the EFS claim section on the online SAF did not become available in most cases until 8 April, which has delayed EFS participants in completing applications.

“A small number will not appear until after 22 April. Those affected by this late population will be contacted directly,” DAERA guidance states.

Read more

Contractors called on to comply with COVID-19 guidelines

Farmers 'let down' by UK supermarkets selling Polish beef