New Woodland & Consolidation of Single Farm Payment Entitlements
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The information contained in this Press Release may no longer be valid. The information is maintained on this website for reference purposes only.
28 October 2005
199/05
The rules have been clarified about how Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements will change for those who plant trees on their land.
From the 2006 scheme year, if you create new woodland under a woodland grant scheme, it may be possible to have your SFP entitlements consolidated against a smaller area of agricultural land. The consolidation procedure will reduce the number of your entitlements but increase their unit value so that your total Single Farm Payment remains the same.
The limit on consolidation is 50% of the original number of entitlements you have been allocated. For example, if you have originally been allocated 50 entitlements, you cannot consolidate any lower than 25 entitlements.
Prior to establishing the woodland, your land must be in agricultural use for a 10 month period, which commenced on the date you have indicated on your Single Farm Payment application form in order to prevent the amount of Single Farm Payment you will receive in respect of the 2005 scheme year being affected. For example, if you have indicated a commencement date of 1 October 2004, the 10 month period ends 31 July 2005. After the 10 month period is over you are free to plant trees on the land and apply to have your entitlements consolidated.
For your application to consolidate to be successful, you will probably need to demonstrate that you do not have ‘extra’ land on which you could claim entitlements e.g. if you have 100 hectares and 50 entitlements it may not be possible to consolidate your entitlements in respect of new woodland creation.
Anyone with a Single Farm Payment query should contact Grants and Subsidies on 028 7131 9900 or for woodland grant scheme queries, contact the Forest Service on 028 9076 5391.
Notes to Editors:
1. If you have specific Single Farm Payment queries you should contact Grants and Subsidies Branch, Single Farm Payments Section, Orchard House, Derry / Londonderry Tel: 028 7131 9900.
2. Information booklets and advice about the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme may be obtained from the Forest Service, Private Woodlands and Plant Health Branch, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, BELFAST BT4 3SB Tel: 028 9076 5391.
3. To encourage woodland establishment DARD’s Forest Service administer two grant schemes: the Woodland Grant Scheme assists toward the costs of establishing woodland, the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme offers annual payments to compensate for agricultural income foregone.
4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.
