Farmers have been given an extension to fill out what is being described as the "last of the last EU forms" for claiming payments from Brussels.
Because Ireland opted for decoupling production from direct payments in the reform of the CAP, the plethora of forms which farmers had to fill in to claim their cheques in the post will become a thing of the past. Over two-thirds of farm income comes to Irish farmers in the form of direct payments from the EU as premiums on cattle and sheep, slaughter premiums and direct payments for planting cereals, which meant filling over 50 forms annually.
However, to ensure the payments continue, one last form has to be filled in, the 2004 EU Area Aid form on which the single payment farmers will receive from next year, will be based.
The new Single Payment Scheme will replace all the livestock and cereal support schemes from January 1st, 2005, when the reformed CAP regulations come into force.
While this form was due to have been returned to the Department by the end of this month, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, has decided to give farmers an extra fortnight.
Every farmer in the State will have to complete the form to qualify for the payments and this will include over 30,000 farmers who have not completed this form before.