Land in the northwest that became ineligible for area-based payments after last month’s floods can still be claimed in the 2018 Single Application Form if it has not been restored by May next year.DAERA said this week that a force majeure form can be submitted again in 2018 for land affected by floods, provided a form for the 2017 scheme year has been submitted by Thursday’s deadline.
Land in the northwest that became ineligible for area-based payments after last month’s floods can still be claimed in the 2018 Single Application Form if it has not been restored by May next year.
DAERA said this week that a force majeure form can be submitted again in 2018 for land affected by floods, provided a form for the 2017 scheme year has been submitted by Thursday’s deadline.
However, it appears that this does not guarantee Basic Payment for flood-damaged land next year.
“Each application will be considered on an individual basis. Further guidance will be issued in the near future,” a DAERA spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Advice
The department has also published an advisory bulletin for farmers affected by floods. The document states that consent is not needed for routine maintenance of watercourses, but the Loughs Agency should be consulted before work to reinstate river banks, or re-divert rivers to their original path, begins.
DAERA recommends harrowing fine layers (under 50mm) of silt or sand that were deposited by floodwaters when the material dries out. Silt between 50mm and 100mm deep should be assessed next spring to see if it can be broken down into the sward and material over 100mm deep should be piled and spread thinly with a manure spreader.
“It will probably be best to leave any damage in upland/moorland or rough moorland pasture areas to regenerate naturally.
‘‘Mechanical or chemical management may breach cross compliance regulations,” the bulletin reads.
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