The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is reminding farmers to respond to queries on their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications.

The department is currently processing these applications, which may entail queries being issued to farmers on aspects of their BPS submission.

The department has asked farmers to respond promptly to any notifications they receive regarding their application. A prompt response “helps to progress these issues in advance of the October 16 payment date”, the department said in a statement.

In all previous years, all such query notifications were issued by post; however, in 2020, a certain number of query notifications will only be issued via email to a farmer’s approved agricultural advisor, or by text message to farmers signed up to the department’s SMS service.

Farmers not signed up to this service, or who have not authorised an advisor to receive emails, will continue to receive queries by post.

If a query is not responded to, all follow up queries will be issued by post.

If a farmer received a query, they can access the full details on agfood.ie. Farmers can also contact the department directly in relation to a notification.

Minister’s meetings

New Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has met with several key agriculture sector stakeholders for the first time this week.

Yesterday, July 9, the minister spoke with European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan, as well as Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski.

He also spoke with his UK counterpart George Eustice, the UK’s secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

Meanwhile, Minister Cowen has also had face-to-face meetings with farm organisation representatives.