Online applications for Single Farm Payment soar from 7,500 to 44,000

THE number of online applications for the Single Farm Payment scheme have soared in four years, which could be invaluable to farmers given the imminent deadline for the 2011 scheme, according to the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The deadline for this year’s applications is May 16. About 7,500 lodged online in 2007, the first year of the scheme. This rose to 19,500 in 2008, to 35,000 in 2009 and to 44,000 in 2010.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney cautioned farmers to get their applications in before the due date to avoid penalties.