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Following the end of the EU-UK transition period on 31 December 2020, new rules now apply when importing consignments of hay and straw from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has advised.
Under the requirements of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and associated UK legislation, Northern Ireland remains within the EU Single Market and regulatory zone for animal health, plant health and for some aspects of public health protection.
This requires documentary, identity and physical checks to be carried out on relevant goods as they enter NI from GB.
Outlining the new rules for moving consignments of hay and straw from GB to NI which came into force on the 01 January, a DAERA spokesperson said: “From 1 January, before moving hay or straw from GB to NI the person responsible for the consignment must:
“A guidance note setting out each of these steps and links to further information is available on the DAERA website at www.daera-ni.gov.uk
“The website also contains information about other rule changes following EU Exit and provides guidance to assist business and individuals through these changes.”
You can also receive free notification of any new information or guidance by signing up to the DAERA EU Exit text alert service. Subscription is easy, simply text DAERAEUExitNews to 67300.
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Gordon Lyons MLA has outlined his priorities after his appointment as Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) after Edwin Poots MLA temporarily stepped aside for health reasons.
Speaking about his new portfolio, Minister Lyons said: “I want to wish my colleague Edwin Poots MLA a full and speedy recovery. While I would wish for better circumstances, it is a privilege to take up this role whilst he recovers from surgery and I look forward to working with the industry, stakeholders and the wider rural community in the weeks ahead.
“I am keen to quickly get to grips with the issues facing the Department and industry, not least the implications of EU Exit and the impacts of the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP). As Minister, I will consider all options and pursue all avenues to mitigate against the societal and economic consequences of the NIP and the barriers it is causing to trade.
“I also want to put on record that I totally condemn any threats made against workers and staff going about their duties at Belfast, Warrenpoint and Larne ports. As public servants, these staff should be allowed to do their jobs without fear and it is unacceptable and intolerable that threats have been made. There is no place in society for intimidation and threats against anyone going to their place of work. Staff safety is of paramount importance.”
Commenting about the issues around Covid-19, the Minister said: “I am acutely aware of the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on the agri-food, fisheries, rural and environmental sectors and I intend to focus on assisting those sectors to recover and remain sustainable in the long term. I would also like to pay tribute in particular to the agri-food sector and the role they have played throughout this crisis and keeping food moving – the sector is vital to our economy and we must continue to support it.”
Speaking about the Department’s ongoing work, Minister Lyons said: “DAERA is a diverse and wide-reaching Department which impacts on all our lives whether it is the food we eat, the air we breathe, the beautiful countryside we enjoy, our climate or our rural communities. Much good work is already in progress on many important issues including the multi-decade Green Growth Strategy, the Forests for our Future programme and delivering and simplifying support schemes for our farm businesses.
“The Department is also currently consulting on a number of significant areas including a Climate Change Bill; a clean air strategy; the governance elements of the Environment Bill; access to our natural environment for outdoor recreation, and further education support at CAFRE. I encourage everyone to respond to these discussion documents and let us know what you think. I wish to continue Edwin’s good work in these areas, keeping these important issues moving for him to pick up once he is back in office.”
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Applications for the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme and Entitlement Transfer Service will open on 01 March, Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has announced.
Welcoming the launch, Minister Lyons said: “I am pleased to announce that the 2021 Single Application and Map Service and Entitlement Transfer Service will open on 01 March 2021. Entitlement transfer applications will be accepted up to 04 May, and Single Applications for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and other schemes such as the Environmental Farming Scheme can be submitted up to 17 May this year without penalty.”
Minister Lyons continued: “The farm payments made by my Department represent the single largest income for farms in Northern Ireland (NI), and underpin the financial viability of the agricultural industry. These payments represent our continued commitment to farming families and the rural economy right across NI, following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union (EU).
“I am particularly pleased that we have been able to simplify the process for farmers in the first full year since leaving the EU, with the amalgamation of greening payments into the BPS and a change in entitlement values from euros (€) to pounds sterling (£).”
From 01 March 2021 farm businesses and their agents can submit Single Applications and entitlement transfer applications via DAERA’s Online Service. The Entitlement Transfer Service will close on 04 May 2021. Single Applications must be submitted online by 17 May 2021 to avoid a late claim penalty. DAERA plans to begin issuing full payments to farmers from October 2021.
The Single Application is the method for claiming any of the following schemes;
Farm businesses should also use the Single Application and Map Service to notify DAERA of any changes to their land.
Farmers should allow adequate time to check all their information to ensure it is correct and to avoid unnecessary penalties. Farmers should submit their applications as soon as possible from 01 March 2021 onwards.
Speaking in support of the motion to approve the draft payments in the Assembly today, Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin said "As I have said previously, farming and the environment very much go hand in hand, and one cannot realistically survive without the other. That is why support for farming and the environment is so vital. As we know, direct payments are worth around £293 million a year to the industry. That is of significant assistance, and, understandably, there has been much debate and insistence on the need for such payments to continue. Our agri-food industry is one of the most prized assets in Northern Ireland, securing many thousands of jobs across a great number of sectors. It is, of course, important that the industry is fully supported going forward to ensure the stability and full recovery of our economy post pandemic."
DAERA will provide the following help to farmers to complete their applications:
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Beef and dairy farmers are reminded that the British Blue Cattle Society NI spring sale has a new date, Easter Tuesday, April 6.
Held as usual at Dungannon Farmers Mart the event is part of a multi breed event with British Simmental, Blonde, Saler and Charolais breeders. Viewing 10.30am to 11.30am with auction action from noon. All Covid-19 rules apply.
Potential bidders, in person or on line, are likewise reminded to register with the mart, tel; (028) 8772 2727, WWW.DFM-NI.CO.UK
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Environment Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed a new partnership that will fund training places for packaging technologists in a drive to find more sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
Making the announcement that Vickerstock Recruitment will sponsor four students at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) to study for a Diploma in Packaging Technology, the Minister said it was time to rethink plastic in all packaging.
“It is unacceptable that far too much plastic ends up as pollution in our environment or waste in our landfills. It’s time to rethink how we produce plastic packaging and also how we can keep plastic in use for as long as possible by repeatedly recycling and reusing it,” said Minister Poots.
“I’ve very proud to say CAFRE is the only college on the island of Ireland that offers the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Diploma in Packaging Technology which is internationally recognised as the premier qualification for packaging professionals. These future packaging technologists can play a very important role in developing the circular economy in Northern Ireland and encouraging the use of recycled material.
“We know that with the pending introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax that demand for skilled packaging technologists is growing large packaging manufacturers are looking for more sustainable alternatives in their production. So it is very important that we equip these students with the latest knowledge and skills needed to help us use both less plastic and more sustainable forms of it,” Minister Poots added.
Vickerstock’s specialist recruiter Paul Muir said: “This partnership with CAFRE fits with the wider vision of our company to promote and encourage career opportunity and entry into one of Ireland’s most important sectors, we hope that this will provide another stepping stone in career development, future success of the students and benefits to the industry as a whole.”
The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) comes into effect in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in April 2022. It applies to plastic packaging produced in, or imported into, the UK, but will not apply to any plastic packaging which contains at least 30% recycled plastic, or any packaging which is not predominantly plastic by waste.
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Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots today visited an arable farm near Hillsborough to encourage eligible farmers/businesses to apply for the recently launched Protein Crops Scheme.
Minister Poots said “I am pleased to have this opportunity to encourage farmers to apply for the Protein Crops Scheme for growing combinable beans, peas and sweet lupins. These crops will create a domestically produced source of protein for animal feed and provide agronomic benefits within arable rotations. The scheme is being introduced in 2021 and in 2022 on a pilot basis and then the approach will be refined for subsequent years to maximise the economic and environmental benefits."
The Minister continued “The timing of this arable farm visit is ideal as it comes at a time when farmers are finalising their cropping plans for this growing season as well as completing their Single Application."
The payment rate for the scheme is £330/ha and the total area eligible for payment under the Pilot Scheme in 2021 and in 2022 will be capped at 1,000 hectares (ha). If more than 1,000 ha are determined as eligible, a linear scaleback will be applied to the determined protein crop payment area to reduce it to 1,000 ha. Payment will be made on the scaled back area.
The minimum area claimed must be at least 0.3ha and applicants may only claim on land planted in protein crops. Areas of protein crops sown in a mixture with cereals or other crops will not be eligible for the scheme and protein crops declared under the scheme must not be harvested until after 31 July 2021. Farms that have an approved Nutrient Action Programme Derogation, are Not eligible to apply to this scheme.
Full scheme details as well as how to apply can be found at WWW.DAERA-NI.GOV.UK
Concluding Minister Poots said “I would encourage everyone to consider the opportunities and benefits this scheme provides not only to boost farm incomes, but also the associated agronomic and environmental benefits."
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Payments totalling £16.5million to participants in the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) have commenced, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced.
The payments for over 60% of EFS Wider and Higher 2020 claims, worth £9.5million, will appear in farmers’ bank accounts within 10 working days. The Department will continue to release the remaining payments as quickly as possible as claims are checked and validated.
Minister Poots said: “I am pleased to announce that payments totalling £16.5million will commence this week to farmers participating in the Environmental Farming Scheme.
“This is a £16.5million investment in helping to further protect and improve our environment, rewarding farmers for work they have undertaken in making a positive contribution to that task.
“EFS has been a great success and I hope to continue this support for farmers’ environmental work in the future.”
Further information and guidance on the scheme can be viewed on the DAERA website - WWW.DAERA-NI.GOV.UK
From 30 March 2021, the majority of participants in the scheme can submit their 2021 claims for EFS payment via the Department’s online Single Application and Maps Service.
The remaining participants can submit their claim from 23 April. This is to ensure the data that is provided is as accurate and up to date as possible. The Department will be writing to these farmers to advise them of this in early April.
Claimants are reminded that, as the EFS is a five-year agreement, work claimed for and paid on must remain available for inspection at any time during this period. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme may lead to penalties and recovery of any payments made.
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Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced a financial support package worth up to £1.27 million to sheep farmers who have been impacted by poor wool prices over the past year following the crash in the global market for wool as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister said: “Over the past year I have met with representatives of the sheep and wool sectors on a regular basis to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the global wool market and the resulting impact for local farmers.
“I recognise the financial impact that the downturn in the wool market has had on sheep farmers. To offset the losses incurred in their returns from wool sales, I am pleased to announce £1.27 million support from the Covid-19 fund.
“This financial support will compensate for losses incurred and encourage farmers to value the wool that they produce as it is a sustainable natural product that has wonderful potential in many different product areas.”
When the scheme opens later this year, eligible farmers will be contacted and asked to complete a simple application form to claim their payments. Further details and explanatory information will be published on the DAERA website at that time.
The Minister added: “I am very pleased that over £21.6 million has already been paid out by DAERA to local farm businesses impacted by the pandemic, and a further £2 million will be paid to pig and poultry producers in the next few days. This financial support will be very helpful in these difficult times.”
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With just under 28 days left to submit Single Applications, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA is encouraging farmers to submit their applications now so as not to incur a financial penalty.
The deadline for submitting Single Applications without penalty is 17 May 2021. Failure to submit an application will result in a farmer not receiving their payment this year.
The deadline for making an Entitlement Transfer is 04 May 2021.
Minister Poots said: “Basic Payments issued by DAERA represent by far the largest income for farm businesses in Northern Ireland and are vital to the continued viability of family farms and the rural economy.
“At present the Department has received a third of Single Applications and I would therefore strongly encourage all farmers to go online now and complete your application. It can take time to gather all the information you need to complete your application, so start today to avoid the possibility of missing your farm payment this year.
“DAERA staff are ready to assist farmers in completing their application and can be contacted on 0300 200 7848 or via webchat services.”
Minister Poots continued: “The deadline for submitting Single Applications is 17 May 2021, but if you need to make an Entitlement Transfer this must be completed by 04 May 2021. Late applications for Entitlement Transfers will not be accepted and could mean you do not receive the payment you were expecting. If you use an agent to complete your applications, you need to contact them now to make sure they have all the information they require to do this for you in 2021.”
A dedicated team of advisors are available on 0300 200 7848 or through webchat if farmers need help. Advisors will also be contacting farmers who have not yet submitted their application, farmers may receive phone calls in the evening or weekends to offer assistance and support.
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