The Ulster Farmers’ Union has hit out at DARD for the complete and utter disaster many farmers, in particular arable farmers, are facing as a result of the mess DARD has made in relation to clarifying and communicating greening requirements under the newly reformed CAP.
Speaking after a disillusioned meeting of the UFU Seeds and Cereals Policy Committee, UFU Deputy President Barclay Bell said: “While many of Northern Ireland’s farmers are exempt from additional greening requirements since their farms are considered ‘green by definition’ there are still a significant proportion, the majority of which are arable farmers that will have to contend with the complex greening rules.
“Many arable farmers are only days away from seeding and unbelievably DARD has still not published a greening rule book. Surely we have officials within DARD who realise the practicalities of arable farming and that planning is required. A rule book in two or three week’s time is much too late and will do nothing to allay arable farmers’ fears of unjust penalties. Essentially, if no rule book materialises farmers will be planting blind with the hope that they have interpreted the greening rules correctly on their own, without any definitive guidance from DARD and this is simply not good enough. Understandably, farmers are incredibly frustrated and the lack of clear, unequivocal guidance on greening is adding unnecessary stress to an already stressful time of year for arable farmers.
“DARD need to recognise that this delay and uncertainty could have a serious impact on farm businesses and to ensure that farmers do not suffer penalties for having to make decisions at a time when they do not have official confirmation from DARD of the rules.
“The President has already raised these concerns directly with the Agriculture Minister and we have asked that CAFRE Advisors be made available for on farm visits to help farmers subject to additional greening requirements ensure they meet these in order to qualify for the full greening payment under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. We have also insisted that since this situation has come about through no fault of the farmers, DARD must ensure no financial penalty is applied to the 30% greening payment in 2015 should a farmer make an honest mistake as a result of the lack of information. The Committee has also red flagged DARD’s plan to issue a separate form for the recording of specific greening measures as this adds even more paper work and increases the potential for possible mistakes.
“For months now we have been working behind the scenes, pushing DARD to provide definitive clarity on greening requirements and to communicate these widely to farmers. With spring planting imminent and the deadline for the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme applications just around the corner, DARD must deliver for our farmers and ensure the greening rule book is made available without any further delay.”
