With the closing date for receipt of 2017 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications looming on May 15th, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is reaching out to help farmers having difficult with the online process through a series of workshops nationwide.
WITH the closing date for receipt of 2017 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications looming on May 15th, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is reaching out to help farmers having difficult with the online process through a series of workshops nationwide.
From next year, all farmers will have to make their applications online. Since the introduction of the online system in 2007, the number of farmers applying online has continued to grow from 7,500 in 2007 to over 102,000 in 2016.
The growth in the number of farmers applying online shows that more and more farmers are finding the best way to apply for their BPS is online, but there are still a lot of farmers having difficulty and the workshop with Department officials in the Riverside Park Hotel, Macroom, from 2.30 to 7.30pm on Friday, May 28th, is recommended for those who need one-to-one advice on and assistance with their applications.
While most farmers still have the option of submitting a paper or online application, this will no longer be the case from 2018, so the Department is urging all famers to register on www.agfood.ie, if they have not already done so, and to submit their BPS application online as soon as possible. They must first register with the Department by visiting www.agfood.ie or by calling the dedicated helpdesk at 076 1064424 where a member of staff will be happy to assist. Once you are registered, farmers can apply online for various schemes, including BPS. It is open to farmers to do this themselves, or through an agent. Registering www.agfood.ie will allow one to apply for various schemes online, record animal events, register calf births, view one’s financial statements securely and apply for BPS online.
