New farm maps on the way as SFP packs are prepared

Editorial Department • Published 4 Mar 2011 09:00 0 Comments

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Every farmer completing a Single Farm Payment application this year will be receiving an aerial photograph of their farm and a new booklet, "Guide to Land Eligibility."

The announcement was made this week by the Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew who explained that further maps will be issued later this year.

The Minister said: "During the year ahead, we are taking a number of steps to help farmers complete their claims correctly and address some of the concerns raised by the European Commission during recent audits. This will involve sending new detailed guidance and aerial photographs to farmers to help them identify eligible land. Revised farm maps will follow from the summer onwards."

The Minister continued: "Farmers will receive their Single Application pack this year around the end March as usual. In addition to this, all farmers who submitted a Single Application Form (SAF) in 2010 will separately receive an aerial photograph along with a new booklet "Guide to Land Eligibility". The aerial photograph will clearly pin point the land that the farmer claimed in 2010 and will help identify areas of eligible land. The new booklet provides more detailed information about the type of land that can be claimed and will provide examples of land that is ineligible.

"Taken together, these aerial photographs and booklet are the first step this year to help farmers ensure that their 2011 claims are as accurate as possible. I would urge every farmer to make sure they look at the aerial photographs and understand all the advice we are providing to them in the booklets before they complete their 2011 claim. "

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, the Minister said: "As you know my Department, in conjunction with DFP, Land and Property Services, is undertaking an extensive exercise to review and update farm maps. We will start to issue revised farm maps to farmers on a phased basis after the 2011 IACS application period closes.

"Once farmers receive a new map, it is important that they take the time to study these carefully and advise us about any amendments that are needed. Maps will also be available online to allow farmers to view the information more conveniently. We will be issuing more guidance on what farmers need to do with these maps nearer the time."

The Minister continued: "While this sets our plans for 2011, my Department is still working through some related issues. I know, for example, that farmers are asking if we will use the new maps to recalculate entitlements for SFP and other schemes. We will make an announcement about how the relevant Commission Regulation will be applied later this year."

The Minister concluded: "Farmers are responsible for filling in their claims correctly, and must only claim on eligible land. The advice we are sending is important and will be helpful to farmers so that they do not claim on ineligible land. Farmers who take care at this stage to make sure that their 2011 claim is correct are more likely to receive their payment in December 2011 and January 2012 than those whose claims show avoidable errors.

"We are all in this together and it is only through a combined effort that we can get our maps up to Commission requirements and help safeguard this vital contributor to our industry," she added.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Mar 11

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