Single Farm Payment Advisory Campaign a Huge Success

Teagasc advisers’ around the country helped and assisted over 60,000 farmers’ with their Single Farm Payment application forms during the Single Payment Scheme campaign according to Pat Boyle, Head of Teagasc Advisory Services.

Demand for assistance in the completion of the SPS application forms was unprecedented necessitating many farmers’ waiting in long queues in Teagasc offices. Mr. Boyle thanks all farmers’ for their understanding and patience. He also thanks the advisory and administrative staff for their commitment during this demanding period. “Many advisers worked 16 and 18 hour days to ensure all farmers’ in need of assistance were facilitated”, said Mr. Boyle.

Continuing, he said that the resources Teagasc committed to the campaign reflected the importance Teagasc attached to the completion and submission, by every farmer, of their application.

Mr. Boyle said that he was particularly pleased with the co-operation between the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc during the campaign. The series of countrywide public meetings held jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc prior to the distribution of application forms by the Department, was a vital factor in promoting the scheme and creating awareness of it’s importance to farmers’.

Pat Boyle said that any farmer wishing to make changes or corrections to their application form may do so by submitting an amendment to their Single Payment Application before May 31 deadline.

He said, Teagasc advisers are available to assist farmers with amendments to their application and he urged any farmer who wishes to do so to contact their local adviser immediately.

The Teagasc Head of Advisory Services also said that with the single Payment Application and Amendment period coming to an end farmers’ must now refocus their energies to enterprise management. He said, “cost efficient operations are the key to farming success in the future. I urge farmers to work closely with their Teagasc adviser in reducing costs in their farming systems”.

Ends

Issued by

Larry O’Loughlin, A/Head, Public Relations Department, Teagasc

Tel: 059 9183408; 087 2562434; Email: loloughlin@hq.teagasc.ie