Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir is urging Farm Businesses who have not yet submitted their 2024 Single applications to take action before midnight on 15 May.
Minister Muir said: “Submitting a Single Application is one of the most important tasks for farmers each year. To date, over 14,000 farm businesses have completed their submission in 2024 and I would encourage the remaining farmers to complete their application without delay. The online application service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“Completing applications before the 15 May deadline will avoid late claim penalties and allow my Department to issue prompt payments from 2 September.”
Farm businesses that have not yet applied are urged to do so now to avoid late claim penalties and to allow enough time to check that their information is accurate.
Applications submitted between 16 May and 10 June will incur financial penalties.
The Single Application is used to claim any of the following schemes:
- Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)
- Young Farmers’ Payment (YFP)
- Regional Reserve Entitlement allocation or top up (as a Young Farmer or New Entrant)
- Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)
- Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
- Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS)
- Forest Expansion Scheme (Annual Premia)
- Small Woodland Grant Scheme (SWGS), or
- Protein Crop Scheme
Farmers should also use the Single Application and Map Service to notify DAERA of any changes to their land in 2024.
Single Application should be submitted via DAERA’s Online Services.
Information and guidance are also available from the DAERA website.
Farm businesses will receive a DAERA message to confirm submission of their Single Application. With the move to digital communications, it is important that farm businesses ensure that DAERA hold the most up to date contact information for them. Businesses can update contact details via DAERA Online Services account or contact the Business Changes team on 0300 200 7848.
Notes to editors:
- The online Single Application and Map Service has built-in help and warning messages to assist farmers to complete their applications.
- Guidance documents and ‘how to’ videos are available from the DAERA website - the videos provide step-by-step instructions on completing your Single Application, including how to make changes to fields or features within a field.
- The Advisory Service can be contacted on 0300 200 7848, for help and guidance on how to submit an application. Farmers can also email: areabasedschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk. Advisors will be ready to help Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm and also Saturday 11 May and Sunday 12 May 9.00am to 4.00pm.
- Alternatively, an agent or trusted person can be nominated by farmers to complete the application on their behalf. Forms to nominate an authorised person can be downloaded from the DAERA website. Farmers can also opt in to receive emails and SMS text messages to keep up to date with scheme news and reminders on key dates. To do so, farmers should update their preferences on the ‘Personal Details’ page of their DAERA Online Services account, ensuring their email and mobile are up to date.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
- Follow DAERA on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook