Transfer applications for 2008 Single Farm Payment entitlements announced

Applications are now open for farmers wishing to transfer Single Farm Payment entitlements for the 2008 scheme year.

Farmers are reminded that they can transfer entitlements at any time however, the transfer must be notified to the department at least six weeks in advance of the proposed transaction. The final deadline for entitlement transfers to be effective for the 2008 scheme year is 2 April 2008.

Farmers are encouraged to submit the required forms to the department as soon as possible and well in advance of the 2 April 2008 deadline. This will allow outstanding issues to be resolved and if necessary a revised application to be submitted before the deadline.

Completed application forms for the transfer of payment entitlements for 2008 scheme year should be returned to the Single Farm Payment Trading and Entitlements Section, Single Farm Payment Branch, Orchard House, 40 Foyle Street, Londonderry, BT48 6AT, no later than 2 April 2008. Application packs can be obtained from the same address.

Notes to Editors:

1. Transfer of Entitlement application forms (TE1), Business Change notification forms (BC1) and Guidance Booklets are now available on request from the Trading and Entitlement Section, Single Farm Payment Branch, Orchard House, tel: 028 7131 9900.
2. The person receiving entitlements must be registered and approved by the department as a farm business. Farmers who are considering buying or leasing payment entitlements for the 2008 scheme year or who have inherited entitlements and are not already approved as a farm business should contact their local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) office for advice and an application form (FB1).
3. National Reserve entitlements (including consolidated entitlements) may not, (except in the case of anticipated or actual inheritance, or a merger or scission of a farm business), be transferred for a period of five years commencing from the 2005 scheme year.
4. Farmers enter into transfer transactions at their own risk. If after DARD finalises a transfer we discover that the entitlements should not have been transferred, the transfer may be ruled null and void and the entitlements returned to the business which originally possessed them. Repayment, with interest, of any monies not due to either party will be required.
5. In order to claim (activate) payment on an entitlement in 2008 scheme year, a farmer must hold it on 15 May 2008.
6. Farmers can transfer entitlements at any time, provided at least six weeks notice is given. If land is also transferred with entitlements, then the timing of the land transfer must not result in a breach of the ten month period selected for the 2007 scheme year, otherwise the 2007 Single Farm Payment may be reduced and penalties applied.
7. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.
8. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.