Online is now only avenue for BPS

ONLINE payments for the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) opened up for farmers last week – this year all applications have to be made online.

The applications opened on Wednesday, February 7 and remain live until the closing date of Tuesday, May 15. Last year, 87% of all applications were made online.

Over the coming days, all farmers will be receiving a BPS information pack in the post, containing terms and conditions of the scheme as well as land details. The scheme is opening a month earlier than last year and Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has urged all farmers to use this extra month to get their applications submitted.

The early opening, the Minister said, had been put in place to help farmers who would be engaging with the online process for the first time.

“This will provide more time for farmers to familiarise themselves with the online application facility and to submit their applications,” said Minister Creed.  He added that officials from the Department would also be providing a range of supports to farmers over the coming weeks and months, including a series of BPS clinics in locations throughout the country and telephone helplines.

IFA Deputy President Richard Kennedy has also urged farmers to make their BPS online applications as early as possible – if they experienced any difficulties in completing the application online, they should make direct contact with the Department of Agriculture.

He said that in 2017, around 114,000 farmers made their applications online, meaning 13% made paper applications. From this year, EU regulations require that all BPS applications must be made online.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.