LFA Compensatory Allowances Questions
The Department of Agriculuture and Rural Development (DARD) provides a list of frequently asked questions and answers relating to The Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme (LFACA) and how to access information generally from the Department.
The LFACA scheme is an annual compensation measure to support those who farm in naturally less favoured areas in Northern Ireland. Through this support, the scheme will contribute to:
- ensuring continued agricultural land use and, thereby, contributing to the maintenance of a viable rural community;
- maintaining the countryside;
- maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems which in particular take account of environmental protection requirements.
In short, to claim for LFACA 2009 you must:
- have at least 3 hectares of eligible forage land in the Severely Disadvantaged Area and/or Disadvantaged Area;
- keep enough eligible stock to meet the minimum 0.2 Livestock Units per hectare stocking density requirement;
- have the land available and accessible to you and meet the stocking density requirement throughout the period of 1 April 2008 to 31 October 2008;
- adhere to the Cross-Compliance requirements;
- undertake to farm in the Less Favoured Area for five years from the first payment of a compensatory allowance; and
- complete the application properly.
To apply for LFACA 2009 you must properly complete the right parts of the 2008 IACS/Single Application (SAF 1) and the Field Data Sheet(s) (SAF 2).