Failure to meet EU rules on qualifying as an 'active farmer' could mean more than 5,000 farmers in Northern Ireland could end up leaving the industry.
The principal concern has been the definition of ‘active farmer’ and the treatment of farm businesses where they have off site property investment and rental income.
This has been causing considerable consternation in the industry as entirely valid and in some cases substantial farming businesses might have been caught by this proposal, particularly where they have diversified.
In the latest release the RPA have stated that any farmer who farms more than 36 hectares of eligible land will be able to claim the Basic Payment as an active farmer irrespective of any other activity.
Andrew Bays of BCM, specialists in rural property operating throughout southern England, states: “This will come as an enormous relief to farmers and estate owners who were beginning to get extremely concerned about the potential classification of their businesses as not being active farmers. This announcement greatly simplifies the issue and is entirely fair as it makes clear that bona fide farming businesses over the size limit can continue to claim the Basic Payment irrespective of their other activities.”
A DARD spokesman said: “DARD undertook a review of all farm businesses which submitted a Single Application Form in 2014 to identify businesses which the review suggests will not meet the active farmer requirement and therefore would not be allocated entitlements in 2015 unless they take action.
“On October 31, 2014, letters were issued to 7,217 farm businesses identified as possibly non-active. 2,045 of these businesses have since replied indicating that they will be actively farming in 2015 and want to be sent a pre - populated 2015 Single Application Form [SAF] when they become available.
“The 5,172 farm businesses who have not replied will not be sent a pre – populated SAF but can still request a form up until the application closing date on May 15, 2015 if they believe they can now meet the scheme eligibility conditions.”
In England, farmers with at least 36 hectares of eligible land will qualify as an active farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
This simplified version of the rule is part of Defra’s commitment to make the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules as simple and flexible as possible and the details are included within the latest CAP Countdown leaflet, which has been published on GOV.UK today (19/12).
This leaflet also includes key information on what land uses and features are eligible for BPS. It confirms the activities which do not affect BPS payments, such as bird watching and nature/farm visits by schools.
It also lists uses and events which will not affect payment if they do not last more than 28 days in one calendar year. This includes clay shooting, country fairs and car boot sales.
