Just over one week for SFP applications

Editorial Department • Published 6 May 2010 14:55 0 Comments

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Farmers have just over one week left to return their 2010 Single Farm Payment application forms. The closing date is May 15 but because this is a Saturday, applications will be accepted on Monday 17 May 2010 without penalty.

Application forms received by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) after May 17 2010 and by June 11 2010 will incur late application penalties. Forms received on June 12 2010 and after will be rejected.

At the end of last week, around 7,000 application forms have been received. Farm businesses that lodged Single Applications in 2009 have been issued with 2010 Single Application packs. Businesses that did not lodge an application in 2009, or have not yet received a pack, can obtain one by contacting their local DARD office. Guidance on the completion of the application is provided in the guide on how to complete your 2010 Single Application and Field Data Sheet. This booklet was included in the application pack.

Last year, many farmers claimed land for SFP which was not eligible. It is strongly recommended that, before completing their 2010 application, farmers check their most recent farm maps to make sure these reflect the current situation in their fields today. Buildings, laneways or other ineligible features should be removed and farmers should use the green Form GIS 2, included with their application pack, to tell the Department about these changes. They should also ensure that their field data sheet reflects the updated position.

Farmers who have already submitted their 2010 Single Application, and now discover they have made a mistake, or have used an out-of-date map, should immediately amend their claim by completing the SAF 3 form provided in their application pack.

Farmers should also remember that from 2010, entitlements need to be activated at least once every two years. Farmers who did not activate their entitlements in 2009, must do so in 2010 to avoid them being confiscated and returned to the National Reserve. Farmers should keep a close eye on their entitlements as the Department has no option other than to apply the new activation rules set by the EU.

Businesses that have applied to transfer entitlements for the 2010 scheme year by sale or lease, and who have not yet been notified of the outcome, should bear in mind when completing their 2010 Single Application that entitlements belong to the business approved by DARD as holding the entitlements at May 15 2010.

Staff at local offices are available to assist with queries about the application process and to deal with notifications of changes to farm maps. Local offices report increased demand for map changes compared with previous years, so if farmers need to go to their local office they are encouraged to do so well in advance of the May 17 closing date.

Farmers may also submit their Single Application online. Anyone considering using this method of application for the first time should contact DARD's Online Services Team on 028 9442 6699 or visit http://www.dardni.gov.uk/onlineservices before May 8 to complete the registration process that allows access to the online service.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 06 May 10

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