Online facility will reduce errors in farm scheme applications

THE possibility of farm scheme applications being submitted with minor errors will be dramatically restricted this year due to new technology on the Department of Agriculture’s online facility.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith has announced that the online application facility for the 2009 single farm payment, the disadvantaged areas scheme, and all other area-based schemes, including the new upland sheep payment is now live.

Those who submit their applications online are much more likely to have their applications cleared for payment more quickly because of in-built validations on the facility.