Published: Wednesday, 11th August, 2010 5:00pm

SFP advance on October 16: IFA

On the IFA stand at Virginia Show were (back from left) Paddy Denning, Cavan IFA county treasurer; Eamon Meade, Meath IFA county treasurer; and Jim O'Rourke, Cavan IFA county chairman; (front) John Bryan, IFA president; Minister Brendan Smith; Jim Maguire, Cavan IFA county environment chairman; and John Waters, Ulster North Leinster regional vice-president.
Pic by==: 97

Following a meeting on the Charter of Farmer Rights in Portlaoise, IFA deputy president Eddie Downey said senior Department officials have indicated that an advance on the Single Farm Payment will be secured and they are confident of payment from October 16.

He said "the Department explained that the issue of an advance has to go before an EU Management Committee in early September and a positive decision should be forthcoming at that stage". The Department confirmed that Disadvantaged Area Payments will commence from the third week of September.

On notice of inspections, Eddie Downey said the Department confirmed that for land eligibility and cross compliance inspections not involving the SMRS for animal identification and registration, feed and food hygiene and animal welfare, the Department can provide and the farmer can insist on up to 14 days notice. The Department also confirmed a similar position applies for County Council Nitrates inspections undertaken by the Department and the inspector is obliged to point out to the farmer when arranging the appointment that he is entitled to up to 14 days notice.

On cattle tags, IFA National Livestock Committee chairman Michael Doran was very critical of the Department of Agriculture for breaking the tolerances agreed in the Charter and as a result penalising farmers excessively. Michael Doran said it is unacceptable that the Department has changed the tolerances in cases where two tags fall out. The Department has halved the tolerances under the Charter and in practice is imposing a penalty in almost all cases where animals lose two tags.

On the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, Michael Doran said the Department confirmed that payment has been issued on 450,000 animals under the 2009 scheme. He said farmers have submitted weaning information on up to 600,000 animals. The Department is working through a large number of query cases and he encouraged farmers to respond to any queries they have received or are outstanding with the Department. Michael Doran said this is a very detailed and frustrating exercise but essential to progress payments. On REPS and AEOS, IFA Rural Development Committee chairman Tom Turley told the Department that an early start-up date for payments was essential, as farmers had applied before the Area Aid deadline of mid-May. Tom Turley said it was essential that all allocated funds for REPS in 2010 amounting to €330m was fully paid out by the end of the year in line with the Charter of Rights.

On Farm Waste Management, Tom Turley said that €13m of interest payments are due to farmers in late 2010/early 2011, along with the final 20% tranche of grant aid.

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