IFA Seeks Full Single Farm Payments

Business & Finance - Farming & Fisheries

Monday, 18 October 2010 16:21

Written by Mike Fanning

With the payout of 50% of the Single Farm Payment to farmers this week, IFA President John Bryan said it is vitally important that the Department of Agriculture gets an advance payment out to all farmers without delay.

He said the mapping and processing problems which have held up Disadvantaged Area payments cannot be allowed to delay Single Farm Payments.

John Bryan said the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith must sort out any delays arising from mapping problems. “They must not disrupt the payout of the Single Farm Payment and any issues arising should be dealt with prior to the remaining 50% Single Payment that is due on 1st December next.”

“Farmers need these payments to maintain their cashflow. They are under a lot of pressure to pay bills and meet banking commitments at this time.”

The IFA President said the payment delays over mapping, processing and inspections were causing severe financial difficulties for individual farmers. He said, “the speed at which these problems are being resolved needs to intensify as farmers are coming under pressure from banks and creditors.”

Mr. Bryan also called for Disadvantaged Areas problems to be sorted out immediately with the final 25% payment due to be made on Wednesday.  The full €220m due must be paid out without further delay.

“The mapping problems which have arisen this year must not be an obstacle to making payments and with further payments due next month such as REPS and AEOS there must be no further disruption,” he warned.