Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D., has today confirmed that 128,360 farmers applied online for their 2022 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in advance of the May 16th deadline. This figure is in line with application numbers for previous years. In addition, over 33,207 Transfer of Entitlement applications have been received online by the deadline.
The Minister commented “I am happy to confirm that so many Irish farmers have applied for the BPS in 2022. The BPS application is an important milestone which encompasses the applications for a range of schemes including the Greening Scheme, Young Farmer Scheme, Protein Aid, Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC). These payments are crucial to our farm families and their businesses so it encouraging to see such a strong response this year.”
The Minister added: “My Department has put a range of supports in place to help farmers to submit their application online. BPS clinics were held in 20 locations around the country throughout April and May, to provide one-to-one assistance to farmers to submit their application. I am very pleased that over 800 farmers were assisted at the BPS clinics and at the Public Office in Portlaoise to submit their application.
“My Department made hundreds of calls to farmers in the run up to the deadline, for example if a draft application had not been submitted online, and over 15,000 calls were answered by the Direct Payments Helpdesk during the application window. We continue to assist farmers with their applications and to work to ensure that important financial supports such as the BPS are paid to farmers in the most efficient way possible.”
Where farmers have made their BPS online application, but now wish to make an amendment, they may make such changes online at www.agfood.ie until midnight on Tuesday 31st May. Every year, the Department also receives a number of late applications for the BPS and there is a 25-calendar day period after the 16th May closing date for the acceptance of late applications and any necessary supporting documentation. However, deductions to payments at a rate of 1% per day in respect BPS payments will apply to late applications which are received during this period.
The Minister concluded “In 2022, the crops declared on the BPS application will also determine eligibility for the Tillage Incentive Scheme and the Protein/Cereal Mix Crop Scheme. My Department is continuing to review the BPS applications and will write to eligible farmers in June to invite them to apply for the schemes on www.agfood.ie.”