Smith praises farmers’ response to LPIS campaign

AGRICULTURE Minister Brendan Smith has praised farmers for their “remarkable” response to his department’s campaign earlier this year to bring the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) up-to-date by mapping ineligible features.

He said the number of maps requiring re-digitisation has increased significantly in previous years.

“It was anticipated that the vast majority of scheme applicants had been making sufficient allowance for these ineligible areas on their claims, however, as these areas were not recorded on my department’s LPIS mapping database, action was required, as the risk of substantial EU dis-allowances is very real.”