The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., has noted today’s announcement by the European Commission of an increased CAP budget for the period 2021-2027 in the revised European Multiannual Financial Framework accompanying the new European Recovery Programme.

Speaking after the announcement, Minister Creed said, “From an agriculture point of view, the  proposal to increase CAP funding  announced by President von der Leyen this morning has to be regarded as a significant advance on the original Commission MFF proposal of May 2018, and is to be welcomed.”  

The revised proposal for the CAP sees additional funding being added to bring funding levels to some €375 billion (current prices), with a further special injection of rural development funds - some €16.5 billion - from the new Next Generation EU fund, bringing the total allocation to €391 billion for the period 2021-2027. 

The Minister continued, “It is no secret that I have been completely opposed to the original Commission proposal for the CAP budget which was announced back in May 2018. Since then I have worked with European Colleagues to build a broad alliance to support the maintenance of the CAP budget. These are complex proposals of course and they will require the approval of all  member states. Furthermore, their implications extend well beyond agriculture, and will have to be examined in great detail to fully assess their impact, However, I am satisfied that this proposal represents an important recognition that farmers have to be provided with reasonable support  through the next seven year period.”

These payments are made to farmers who, as part of their GLAS contract, have undertaken to deliver additional GLAS actions that have the potential to deliver a higher environmental dividend.

These GLAS PLUS payments come hot on the heels of the 2019 GLAS balance payments which commenced on 16 April, almost a month ahead of schedule. These payments will strengthen the financial standing of Irish farmers already challenged by the COVID-19 crisis. To date over 93% of GLAS farmers have received their 2019 balance payment, amounting to a total value of almost €28m. Since the start of GLAS in 2015 farmers have received payments valued at over €800m under the scheme.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., announced today the commencement of balancing payments under Year 3 of the Sheep Welfare Scheme.  The Scheme is co-funded by the European Union as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020.

Minister Creed stated, “I am happy to confirm that the issuing of the 15% balancing payments under the Sheep Welfare Scheme has now commenced. This payment amounts to €1.82M, and is a welcome financial support at this time when farmers are facing challenging circumstances.”

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D today reminded farmers that the deadline to submit their 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Beef Environmental Efficiency

Programme – Suckler (BEEP-S) applications online is Friday 15 May. The rate of submission of applications for 2020 BPS continues to be significantly ahead of last year’s rate and the BEEP-S applications are going well also.

The Department has been assisting farmers in making their applications in recent weeks through its telephone helpdesk services.  The Minister announced that this Lo-call telephone service will be available to farmers for extended hours in the run up to the deadline.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., today reminded farmers and their advisors that the online  application process for both the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Suckler (BEEP-S) for 2020 and the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is open until 15 May 2020.  Suckler farmers should ensure that they apply for the BEEP-S programme in time so as to ensure that they get the full benefits  of this new  Programme. 

The Department will also be implementing its own business continuity plan to maintain essential services. This means that the Department is taking all of the precautions necessary to protect its staff and its clients, consistent with HSE advice, but is remaining open for business, prioritising the delivery of essential services to farmers, fishermen and the food and forestry sectors. 

The Department is taking necessary steps to ensure:

• that producers and processors can continue to operate effectively and keep supply lines open
• that the Department can operate as effectively as possible during the current pandemic.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are reminding farmers that 2020 Nitrates Derogation applications can now be submitted online. The closing date for applications is 8 April 2020.

Farmers are advised to contact their agricultural advisor to determine if they should avail of this facility. More information is available on the Department’s website at the following link: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ruralenvironmentsustainability/environmentalobligations/nitrates/nitratesderogation/2020nitratesderogation/

Farmers who applied for a Derogation in 2019 are reminded that they must submit Fertiliser Accounts by 8 April 2020 also.

End of year Nitrogen and Phosphorus statements (N&P statements) for 2019 are available on the Department’s online system www.agfood.ie.

Farmers not already registered for agfood.ie can do so by logging onto www.agfood.ie and clicking the 'Register' button.

Over the coming days, farmers will be receiving a BPS information pack in the post containing terms and conditions of the scheme as well as maps and land details. 

This information will assist farmers in making their online application. The closing date for BPS applications in 2020 is Friday 15^th May.  Farmers and advisors are urged to avail of the early opening of the application process now rather than waiting until nearer the closing date.

As in recent years, the Department will be providing a range of supports for farmers to ensure that they are in a position to apply for these important payments.  Details in relation to this will be available shortly.

All elements of the Direct Payments Schemes (BPS, Greening, Young Farmers Scheme, National Reserve, Transfer of Entitlements, and the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme) are now online.  This helps to ensure that the Department can process all applications under these schemes as efficiently as possible.

Over 6,800 intensively stocked farmers availed of the derogation in 2019.

The 2020 Nitrates Derogation Terms & Conditions include the full list of recommendations put forward by the Expert Review Group who proposed additional conditions for those farming in derogation that support the multiple objectives of a competitive agriculture sector whilst minimising negative impacts on water quality. This review was carried out jointly in 2019 by experts from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the Department of Housing Planning & Local Government, Teagasc and the EPA and proposed recommendations that were accepted by both Ministers.  The Nitrates Derogation is contingent on meeting water quality standards, and these additional measures, included now in the requirements of the 2020 scheme are designed to provide added protections to water quality. 

Applications must be submitted using the online system which is aimed at simplifying the application process and assisting farmers to avoid penalties. Farmers can also remain compliant with the Regulations by managing their livestock to farm below the limits, exporting enough slurry/farmyard manure or renting additional land but these farmers are also subject to additional requirements this year.

Over 6,800 farmers availed of the derogation in 2019.

All completed postal returns must be received by Seefin Data Management at PO Box 17, An Post, Cahirdown, Listowel DSU, Co. Kerry by close of business on Friday 31 January 2020.  This is the only address at which postal returns will be accepted. Forms posted to any other address will not be processed. Pre-addressed return envelopes were provided to all registered keepers with the 2019 census forms issued in early December 2019.

In the event of a 2019 census form being posted but not received by Seefin Data Management, please note the only acceptable proof of postage is a Registered post receipt. A certificate of posting is not sufficient proof of postage.

Online census returns will be accepted until 23.59 on Friday 14 February 2020. Online submissions will continue to be accepted after that time, but such submissions received on or after 15 February 2020 will be deemed to be late.

Online submission of sheep and goat census data is straight-forward and can be done quickly once keepers are registered with agfood.ie.

Having logged on to agfood.ie, registered keepers should select Animal Identification and Movements.  (If prompted to select a species), select Sheep (or goats as appropriate), followed by Keeper, then Census and Create. An online version of the 2019 census form for the selected species will then be displayed. The online system provides confirmation when a census submission has been completed successfully

Following consultation between the Department and the Direct Payments Advisory Committee, comprising members of the main farming bodies and agricultural advisory and education providers, provision will now be made for applications to the National Reserve in 2020.  The EU Regulations underpinning the operation of the National Reserve provide for priority access to the mandatory categories of ‘Young Farmer’ and ‘New Entrant to Farming’.  The funding for the National Reserve in 2020 will be met from natural replenishment of the fund without the requirement for a linear cut to the value of all Basic Payment Scheme entitlements.  It is expected that the funding in place for the 2020 National Reserve will be in the region of €3 million, which based on the level of applications in recent years will be sufficient to meet the expected demand.

Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive an allocation of entitlements at National Average value or a top-up to the National Average value on entitlements that are below the national average. 

Full details of the operation of the scheme, including Terms and Conditions, will be available when the scheme opens for online applications in February 2020 to coincide with the opening of online Basic Payment Scheme applications. The closing date for receipt of applications under the scheme will be 15^th May 2020.

While the detailed Terms and Conditions of the National Reserve for 2020 will be made available when the schemes launch for online applications in February, it is expected that the terms and conditions will be consistent with those that applied in recent years

Minister Creed said, “this initiative is one of a series of measures being put in place by stakeholders in advance of the Spring calving season with a view to ensuring the highest possible calf welfare outcomes”.

The Minister confirmed that he was making €1.5 million available in order to fund the scheme.

The primary investment focus in on supporting calf feeding systems such as computerised calf feeders, milk carts with mixer included and calf teat feeders. When a farmer purchases one of these items, they will also be eligible to receive support for the purchase of other items, such as calf milk heaters, calf forage/hay racks, calf meal troughs, calf feed barriers and calf pen dividers.

The Minister said that the minimum investment required is €1,000 ex. VAT, while the maximum investment being proposed will be €7,500 ex. VAT. A 40% grant aid will apply to applications meeting all the terms and conditions of the scheme. (In the event of over-subscription this figure may be reduced). Minister Creed confirmed that applications will open on 7^th January 2020. Terms and conditions and the relevant specifications will be available on the DAFM website.

Minister Creed expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing progress being made in the eradication of BVD.  The Minister noted that substantial savings were being achieved by farmers, with the incidence of PIs reducing in 2019 to just 0.04% from 0.66% in 2013 – the first year of the compulsory phase of the Eradication Programme.

He said “the DAFM supports were helping the eradication effort and will be further enhanced by the proposed amendment to the existing regulations coming into effect in early 2020 whereby it will now be a legal requirement for all animals born on or before 1 January 2013 to have a known BVD 

The Minister stated, “This further, very significant level of payments to farmers in the beef sector under BEAM represents clear recognition by my Department, the Government and the EU of the very challenging and difficult climate that these farmers have had to face in recent years.  These payments are in addition to some €15.4 million under BEEP and €34.4 million in BDGP payments that have already issued in recent weeks, making a total of €125 million to Irish beef farmers. Since September a total of €1.72 billion has now been paid out to Ireland’s farmers under a range of schemes operated by my Department.”

BEAM payments will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as more famers are verified as compliant with the requirements of the Measure.

. Payments to the value of approximately €6.1 million have already been made to almost 1,300 farmers, commencing at the end of November. Payments will continue to be made to farmers between now and the end of the year.  

The Minister commented “I am delighted to announce that advance payments commenced ahead of schedule and earlier than last year. The Organic Farming Scheme is one of our most successful schemes under our current Rural Development Programme and it has more than achieved its targets in terms of land converted and maintained for organics.”

The payments to farmers under this scheme mean that since September, DAFM has paid out a total of €1.55 Billion in direct payment to farmers.