Gildernew calls for farmers to consider online options

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has issued a call to farmers to submit their 2010 Single Applications electronically.

The Minister said: "Although farmers will be receiving their 2010 Single Application Forms in the post over the coming days, I would encourage farmers and authorised agents to use the online service this year. The online service for 2010 has been further improved from last year and has been redesigned so that it is easy to use.

"It is now available 24 hours a day and users will receive an instant electronic receipt and a summary of their application once it has been submitted online. Broadband users will also have access to farm maps and aerial photography on-line, which will be of great assistance to farmers as they check the eligibility of the land claimed."

Explaining the benefits of the online service for farmers, the Minister said: "If you submit your form online, the system will automatically check for mistakes as applications are filled in. This will reduce the amount of checking and time taken to process a claim compared with applications submitted in hard copy format and will help produce faster payments. The online service also includes a payment tracker facility which will be useful later in the year when farmers are looking to check the progress and payment position.

"I would encourage as many farmers as possible to consider applying online, as it provides a good safeguard against error and ultimately speeds up their Single Application."

Farmers who would be interested in finding out more about the online Single Application service should, in the first instance, telephone 028 9442 6699 or visit DARD Online Services or the DARD website.

Notes to editors:

1. During 2009 around 38,700 Single Applications were submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. These applications included claims for Single Farm Payment and applications to the NI Countryside Management, Organic Farming and Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Schemes.
2. The Department first introduced the Single Application Form in 2005 and launched its online service in the same year but last year only 4% of Single Applications were submitted online. This year, following customer feedback, the Department redesigned the user screens and introduced new features and is promoting better use by farmers and agents to improve the accuracy and speed of processing claims, so that as many payments as possible can issue when the payment window opens in December.
3. There has been a high level of uptake of Single Application online services in other Member States, including the south of Ireland which launched its online service for 2010 on 17 February 2010.
4. 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.