Ulster Farmers’ Union Hill Farming Chairman, Ian Buchanan, has said that the technical issues that have emerged with Areas of Natural Constraint payments on common land will be resolved by DARD.
Many hill farmers will have received ANC payments in recent days but we have been made aware of some problems with those on common land, said Mr Buchanan.
This has left a number of farmers receiving part payments for land they own or rent, but not for the common land they farm.
“It is our understanding that there was a problem uploading 2015 data for common land applicants onto DARD’s payment system. This is disappointing for farmers who are in need of this cash injection when bills are mounting on the farm,” he said.
“We have been reassured there is no issue or cause for concern from an eligibility point of view. However there will be delays with these payments, which will now be made as a separate payment, said Buchanan.
He added that it is vital DARD reacts quickly and ensures payments are made as soon as possible.
Payments are to begin to issue to farmers in Northern Ireland who were successful in applying for the 2016 Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme.
Some 9,744 farmers have applied to the ANC Scheme.
The North’s Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill, said that the target to pay 95% of eligible ANC payments by the end of March 2016 would be met.
These payments are a significant boost to the rural economy and in particular to those farmers who face constraints brought about by farming in less favoured areas, according to the North’s Department of Agriculture (DARD).