With the deadline for submission of the 2016 Single Application Form (SAF) of 16 May fast approaching, form fillers and agents have reminded farmers who use their services to get an appointment made as soon as possible.

In the past, the stimulus to get the form off to an agent came when it arrived in the post but, where the SAF was completed online in 2015, there will be no paper pack issued this year. Instead, it is a matter of the agent logging onto the DARD online system on behalf of their client.

“Time is running out. We have less than four weeks to go. In the present economic climate, this form is the most vital one farmers have to complete,” emphasised chair of the NI Agricultural Consultants’ Association David Rankin.

While agents, DARD and farm lobby organisations are encouraging farmers to use the online system this year, a couple of farmers who completed the form online in 2015 have queried if they can revert back to a paper form in 2016. In this scenario, they will have to contact DARD, which will then send out a blank version – there will not be a pre-populated form issued.

Appeal

A number of farmers who are yet to receive 2015 entitlements, or have had their 2015 applications rejected due to rules around active farmers and the young farmers scheme, have also contacted the Irish Farmers Journal to highlight ongoing concerns.

Where no decision on 2015 entitlements has yet been made, and an applicant is farming again in 2016, they should complete a 2016 SAF as normal, in the hope that entitlements are subsequently allocated on the basis of the 2015 claim.

If this occurs, these entitlements can then be activated against the eligible land declared in 2016. However, if the 2015 application is rejected by DARD, no money will be paid out.

Where farmers have had a 2015 entitlement claim rejected, they have the option of requesting a formal review of the decision. Assuming they continue to farm, they should complete the 2016 SAF. If the original decision is over-turned at appeal, 2015 entitlements will be allocated to the business in the normal way.

In all these scenarios, if 2015 entitlements have not been allocated to a farm business before 3 May 2016 it will not be possible to trade (by lease or sale) entitlements in 2016.

Where someone was rejected, and did not appeal, the only way they can claim a subsidy in 2016 is by acquiring entitlements now or by a successful claim in 2016 as a young farmer or new entrant to the regional reserve.

Greening

It is also important to remember that the new rules, which came into force in 2015 around active farmers and also greening (ecological focus area and crop diversification), still apply this year.

In particular, a lot of arable land was planted in winter crops last autumn, so growers should be careful they don’t fall on the wrong side of the two- and three-crop rule.