Crucial SFP decisions in Walsh’s last month
More than 122,000 farmers are currently receiving their Statements of Provisional Entitlements to the Single Payment, but it will be well into October before vital elements of the scheme, such as consolidation of entitlements, are finalised.
This week, landowners get their gross Single Payment figures, on which their direct EU payments for the next 10 years are based.
The Single Payment is calculated from the average number of animals and/or number of hectares, in the case of the Arable Aid Scheme, on which direct payments were made to the farmer concerned in 2000, 2001 and 2002. That average is multiplied by the 2002 rate of aid.
Gross Single Payments will be reduced by 3% in 2005 (rising to 4% in 2006, and 5% in 2007) to create a fund for rural development (referred to as modulation).
This reduction will be refunded to farmers annually on the first 5,000 of the Single Payment.
An additional reduction of 3% the maximum allowable by the regulations will go towards the establishment of a National Reserve. Tomorrow, the Single Payment Advisory Committee will make recommendations on the Reserve to Minister Walsh.
He will consider the recommendations, and later this month will decide on the National Reserve level and eligibility criteria, for which application forms will be available to farmers by late September.
In October, detailed criteria for consolidation of entitlements will be announced by the new Minister for Agriculture, following discussions with the European Commission.
Entitlements can be consolidated on the actual area of land farmed in 2005, if it is equal to at least 50% of the average number of hectares declared in the reference period.
This applies to farmers who afforested land since the beginning of the reference period; disposed of land to a Public Authority for non-agricultural use; had land leased or rented in during the reference period, whose lease or rental agreement had since expired; and farmers who declared lands situated in Northern Ireland during the reference period.
Meanwhile, farmers should carefully scrutinise the data contained in their Statements of Provisional Entitlements and compare it with their own records. There is a review process for farmers who consider that their Statement may contain inaccuracies.
They should complete the Single Payment Scheme Review Form and return it. If not satisfied with the outcome of the review, they can appeal the Department's decision to the Single Payment Appeals Committee.
Farmers with queries relating to entitlements and the Single Payment Scheme can call a dedicated Helpline Lo-call number, 1890 200 566.
A minority of farmers will not receive their provisional statements in this first phase. These are mostly farmers who submitted applications to have their entitlements revised on the grounds of force majeure/exceptional circumstances, or who commenced farming during the reference period, or inherited entitlements.
Provisional Statements will issue to these farmers later.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh has re-opened the process for farmers who have not yet submitted applications for revision of entitlements on these grounds.
Applications forms can be obtained from the Single Payment Unit (1890 200 566), the Department's local offices, or www.agriculture.gov.ie. The new final closing date for applications is October 29.
Minister Walsh will also introduce mechanisms whereby farmers who divided or merged holdings can apply to have entitlements revised.
