'Submit Single Applications online as closing date looms', NI agriculture department warns

You can also get help to complete your application by calling 0300 200 7848
You can also get help to complete your application by calling 0300 200 7848

With just over two weeks remaining to submit single applications before the 16 May deadline, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is urging more farmers to join the 6,200 who have already submitted their Single Application.

If 70% of Single Applications are submitted online DARD has committed to making advance payments in October 2016.

A DARD spokesperson said: 2Our message to farmers during the Single Application period is ‘help us to help you’ by submitting your application online this year.

"Over 6,200 applications have been submitted online, but we need this trend to continue if we are to reach 70% online, which will result in advance payments being issued in October 2016”.

"If more farmers submit their application online then less resources will be required to carry out validation checks, which means that resources can be re-directed to making more payments earlier to more farmers.”

Highlighting the advantages of using online applications rather than paper format, the DARD spokesperson added: "For 2016 we have made further improvements to the online service, making it even easier to use.

"Currently more than 1,000 farm businesses have reaped the benefits of switching to online application for 2016."