Direct payment better alternative

FARMERS can now have direct payments forwarded directly to their nominated bank accounts.

“Payment by Direct Credit offers a secure, cost effective and time saving alternative to cheque payments. At the same time a remittance advice will issue by post to the farmer with confirmation of the payment and details of the transaction”, said Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh.

If a farmer wishes to avail of this service, he or she has to fill in the required bank account details on the Direct Credit Authorisation Form now being issued to almost 160,000 farmers around the country.

The Form must then be returned to the Bank Payments Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Farnham Street, Cavan.

Minister Walsh said Direct Credit provides farmers with certain payment, as cleared funds will be credited to their bank account on a pre-arranged date, without the need to visit the bank to make lodgements. It also facilitates greater accounting efficiency within the Department.

He hoped that this initiative will be availed of by a large number of farmers.

lAlso on the way to farmers is the Farmer Payment Statement, which gives details of all payments made to him or her by the Department of Agriculture during the 2002 calendar year.

The period covered by the statement has been changed from the FEOGA payment year which ends on June 30, to a calendar year.