The DUP and Sinn Féin had different views on moving Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlements to the regional flat rate in 2020 and 2021, according to a document published by DAERA.

A public consultation on the matter closed in September 2019 and last week DAERA confirmed that entitlements would be frozen at their 2019 value for the next two years. The announcement was expected, given that continuing with the sixth and seventh steps towards a flat rate would have required a change in the law under the direction of a minister in DAERA.

A document which summarises consultation responses indicates that the DUP favoured freezing BPS entitlement values at 2019 levels. However, in its response, the party stated that it had never been supportive of land-based payments and instead preferred an agriculture policy which supported “profitability, productivity and sustainable production”.

In contrast, Sinn Féin wanted to continue the transition towards a flat rate, citing the need to support farmers in Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA).

Main winners

DAERA analysis published as part of the consultation showed that the main winners from flattening out payments in 2020 and 2021 would have been SDA sheep farmers, who would have seen an 11% increase in payments. SDA mixed cattle and sheep farms would have also gained (+5%). Farmers in the lowland and disadvantaged area would have lost out.

No other political parties in NI responded to the DAERA consultation.

In their responses, the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the NI Agricultural Producers’ Association (NIAPA) did not give a preference, with both organisations pointing out that DAERA did not have the legal powers to change BPS entitlement values without a minister.

The UFU and Sinn Féin also used their consultation responses to raise wider concerns about the challenges facing SDA farmers, and both called for the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme to be reinstated.