Single Application payment worth £267m opens for NI farmers
17th March 2024
Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, has recently announced the opening of the £267 million Single Application and Map Service, along with the Entitlements Transfer Service.
Funding is available to farm businesses for Direct Payments this year – representing the main source of income for many local farmers.
DAERA said that farmers should submit their applications by Wednesday 15th May 2024 to allow adequate time to check all information and avoid unnecessary penalties.
The last date to submit Single Applications is Monday 10th June.
Entitlement Transfer applications must be submitted by Thursday 2nd May.
Substantial funding package
Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to announce that the 2024 Single Application and Maps Service and the Entitlements Transfer Service are now open. This is a substantial funding package worth £267 million.
“The payments help ensure the resilience of farm businesses and represents our commitment to farming families and the rural economy right across Northern Ireland. I would urge all farmers to apply early in order to avoid any penalties.”
Schemes
The Single Application is the method for claiming any of the following schemes:
- Basic Payment Scheme (BPS);
- Young Farmers’ Payment (YFP);
- Regional Reserve Entitlement allocation or top up (as a Young Farmer or New Entrant);
- Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS);
- Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS);
- Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS);
- Forest Expansion Scheme (Annual Premia);
- Small Woodland Grant Scheme (SWGS); or
- Protein Crop Scheme.
Farmers should also use the Single Application and Map Service to notify DAERA of any changes to their land in 2024. This should be done as early as possible to avoid delays in payment.
If farmers require help or guidance with an application, they should call DAERA’s Advisory Service helpline on 0300 200 7848 or email areabasedschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk.
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