Farmers in Northern Ireland will have their first opportunity to transfer Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlements when the window opens on April 4.
The North’s Minister for Agriculture, Michelle O’Neill said that from this date, farmers and agents can begin transferring entitlements for 2016 BPS.
“Entitlements can be transferred by gift, sale, lease or through actual or anticipated inheritance.
“They can also be transferred as the result of a business merger or scission.
“For a transfer to take effect for the 2016 BPS year DARD must receive the application between April 4 and May 3, 2016.”
The Minister said that this year her Department is offering a new online service to complete the transfer.
“If the transfer is straightforward the easiest way to do this is using DARD’s new online Entitlement Transfer service.”
This service is secure, fast and easy to use. There is no paper form to complete and the transfer takes place instantly.
Farmers who wish to transfer entitlements on paper must do so using Form TE1 ‘Transfer Application’.
For a transfer to take effect for the 2016 BPS Scheme year DARD must receive the TE1 application between April 4 and May 3, 2016.
DARD plans to have issued Entitlement Statements to all eligible farmers by the end of March.
The Entitlement Statement shows the final number and value of the entitlements that were allocated to farm businesses under the 2015 BPS.
It also shows the unique Entitlement Transfer ID which farmers will need if they wish to use the online transfer service or the paper transfer application.
“If you have already registered through the Government Gateway all you need is the Business ID and Entitlement Transfer ID of the person you are transferring your entitlements to.”
If you don’t already have a Gateway ID or password, call the DARD online services team on 028 94426699 or text EASY to 67300 or go to the Department’s website.
Conditions to transfer entitlements:
1. In order to transfer entitlements in 2016 you must have received a 2015 Final Entitlement Statement before the closing date for transfer applications.
2. Entitlements can only be transferred to the following businesses:
- Farm businesses which have activated BPS entitlements or received ANC payment in the 2015 BPS scheme year.
- New Farm businesses which have been approved after May 15, 2015.
- Farm businesses which have cattle on APHIS in the three month period prior to the effective date of transfer or have sheep according to the DARD register the previous January (or later date).
- Farm businesses which can provide evidence of exercising agricultural activity, if requested by the Department, during the calendar year of the effective date of transfer.
3. An exception may apply where entitlements are transferred by inheritance or anticipated inheritance.
(Source – Agriland – Amy Forde – 30/03/2016)
Single Farm Payments In Northern Ireland Drop In Value In 2015
There was a 5% drop in the value of Single Farm Payments in Northern Ireland in 2015, according to the Statistical Review of Northern Ireland 2015.
The review attributes the drop in value to a less favourable exchange rate between Sterling and the euro.
Meanwhile, cash available to farm families from farming activity was estimated to have fallen by 26%, to £251m.
The value of all direct payments to farmers also decreased by £5.3m or 1.8% in 2015, to £287m.
The review found that this drop can be largely attributable to a reduction in the direct CAP payments as a result of less favourable exchange rates between Sterling and the euro.
The estimated value of 2015 direct subsidies (Basic, Greening and Young Farmers payments) was £236m; a decrease of 5.0% compared the Single Farm Payment in 2014.
Meanwhile, total income from farming (TIFF) farmers in Northern Ireland received in 2015 was down 41%, according to the Statistical Review of Northern Ireland 2015.
TIFF, which measures the return to farmers, partners and directors, their spouses and other family workers for their labour, management input and own capital invested dropped to £183m last year.
This figure is down from the £312m farmers received in 2014.
Following the decrease in 2015, the review found that TIFF is now 19% below the average of the last 20 years after accounting for inflation.
The review attributes the large drop in incomes to a fall in price across a range of agricultural products, especially the dairy sector.
The average farm-gate milk price in Northern Ireland fell by 28% in 2015 to 21.2p/L (26.52c/L) while in the pig sector the producer price fell by 18%.
(Source – Agriland – Amy Forde – 03/04/2016)
Northern Ireland’s Brucellosis Compensation Rates Announced
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has announced the compensation rates for animals which test positive for brucellosis in Northern Ireland this year.
Farmers with cattle that test positive for Brucellosis will receive partial compensation from DARD for the disposal of infected or ‘reactor’ animals.
The compensation is payable to farmers with cattle that react positively for brucellosis or animals that come in contact with ‘reactors’ that are destined for slaughtered from April of this year.
Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease of cattle that is characterised by abortions in cattle and can be transferred to humans with serious consequences for human health.
Compensation rates:
- 75% of the animal’s market value, or 75% of £1,068.00 – whichever is the lessor.
- In the case of pedigree animals, compensation is paid at a rate of 75% of £1,360.
In September 2015, Northern Ireland received Official Brucellosis Free Status (OBF).
Speaking last September, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O’Nell said that the brucellosis testing requirements would be reduced as soon as possible.
“Attainment of OBF status for cattle is a highly significant milestone in the history of disease eradication here.
“For the first time in decades, not only is the North free of brucellosis, but the whole island of Ireland may now be regarded as being free from this devastating disease,” she said.
In February of this year, pre-export testing for brucellosis in Northern Ireland was abolished.
As a result, cattle over 12 months of age no longer require brucellosis testing prior to export to the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as to other EU Member States.
(Source – Agriland – Sean Cummins – 03/04/2016)