Countdown to April deadline for transferring Single Farm Payment entitlements

Farmers are reminded that the deadline for submitting applications for the transfer of payment entitlements for the 2010 Single Farm Payment (SFP) scheme year is approaching.

For 2010 the closing date for delivering trading applications to DARD offices in person is 2 April 2010.

If you are considering transferring or trading entitlements in time for 2010 SFP Scheme, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) encourages you to submit your transfer application well in advance of the 2 April 2010 deadline. This allows any queries to be resolved and, if necessary, a revised application to be submitted before the deadline and should avoid any complications with 2010 IACS/Single Applications.

Transfer applications received either on or just before 2 April 2010 may not be processed by 17 May 2010 which is the closing date for submitting the 2010 IACS / Single Application Form.

Farmers who have inherited payment entitlements should make sure that, as soon as probate has been cleared, the Executor or Personal Representative for the deceased’s estate sends DARD a transfer application to transfer the entitlements to the beneficiary. Entitlements not activated by the proper beneficiary could result in them being returned to the National Reserve.

You should therefore ensure that the transfer proceeds as soon as possible after probate is cleared as we may not allow Executors or Personal Representatives to submit a Single Application Form indefinitely on behalf of the Estate. This must be done as soon as possible and before 2 April deadline if you wish to activate the transferred entitlements in 2010.

You need to be registered and approved by us as a farm business before you can receive Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements by transfer. If you are not already registered with us you should contact your local DARD Office for advice and to obtain Form FB1 (Application for DARD Business Identifier). A DARD Business Identifier is needed in order to secure the necessary transfer approval.

Completed application forms for the transfer of payment entitlements for the 2010 scheme year should be returned to the Single Farm Payment Trading/Entitlements Section, Orchard House.

Notes to editors:

1. Transfer of Entitlement application forms (TE1) and Guidance Booklets are available on request from the Trading/Entitlement Section, Single Farm Payment Branch, Orchard House, Tel: 028 7131 9900.

2. The closing date for trading applications is 2 April in the year of the scheme which is six weeks before the closing date for the IACS/Single Application of 15 May. However, for 2010 only, the closing date for the IACS/Single application is 17 May; therefore the official closing date for trading applications is 4 April to allow for this.

3. As 4 April is Easter Sunday, the last date for delivering trading applications in person to DARD offices is 2 April. Trading applications present in DARD offices when they re-open after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 7 April will be deemed to have been received on or before the deadline of 4 April. Trading applications delivered to DARD offices in person on 7 April will not be accepted for the 2010 scheme year.

4. The person receiving entitlements must be registered and approved by DARD as a farm business. Farmers who are considering buying or leasing payment entitlements 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 (Application for DARD Business Identifier).

5. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.