Teagasc Single Farm Payment Campaign in Full Swing

The deadline for farmers to submit their Single Farm Payment application form to the Department of Agriculture and Food is fast approaching.

The Director of Teagasc Advisory Services, Pat Boyle, said, "Teagasc advisers in every office right around the country are busy assisting farmers with their forms to ensure costly mistakes are avoided. Given the importance of this task and the upcoming deadline of May 15, this work is currently a priority for all Teagasc advisers."

Last year Teagasc assisted a record number of 44,000 farmers to establish their entitlements and receive their Single Farm Payment. This year it is expected Teagasc advisers will assist up to 50,000 farmers.

Pat Boyle continued saying, "we are urging farmers to make an appointment with their adviser as soon as possible, particularly sugar beet growers where subsidy entitlements are being established for the first time, and individuals who are farming a different land area to 2005.

Single Farm Payment appointments have also provided clients with the opportunity to discuss the Options programme with their adviser who can assist them in planning for the future", he said.

Single Farm Payment applications are just one particular pressure point of an increasing workload for advisers. Teagasc advisers have observed an increased demand from farmers for their services in relation to REPS 3 and the Farm Waste Management Scheme with demand for both schemes expected to increase dramatically as the year progresses.

Farmers interested in joining the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) or the Farm Waste Management Scheme are asked to contact their Teagasc office without delay, as the advisory service may not have the capacity to service new clients later in the year.

Overseeing the filling out of a Single Farm Payment application form at the Teagasc Ballyhaise office were
Back LtoR: Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Brendan Smith TD; Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan;
Front LtoR: Sydney and Maxwell Cherry, Clover Hill, Belturbet, Co Cavan; Teagasc Adviser, Niall McCabe and Matt Joe Reilly, Drumcalpin, Cavan.