Press Release - NICMS farmers have been let down by DARD

NICMS farmers have been let down by DARD.

Farmers who have taken up the government’s offer to join Northern Ireland’s Countryside Management Scheme (NICMS), and so help in creating more diverse, environmentally friendly farms, are being let down by DARD.

The National Beef Association is angry that farm businesses, which have already cut back stocking levels to fall in with NICMS requirements, will suffer unnecessarily damaging gaps in their cash flow because the Department can’t get the IT behind the system for compensatory payments, which range from £60-£240 a hectare, together in time.

“These people reduced their commercial income capacity in exchange for delivering an improved range of public goods through robust modifications to their management systems,” explained Mr Murnion.

“They expected compensatory payments to come through before the end of January only to be told earlier this week that because DARD has still to get to grips with the payment system’s computers they will have to wait at least another month – and possibly longer.”

“This is not good enough. The mechanics of delivering the money should have been in place six months ago when applications to join the scheme had already been released.”

“The NBA encourages the Minister of Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew, to do more to speed up the delivery of these important cheques.”

“Scheme approval was given only three days before the May 2009 deadline for IACS and NICMS farmers are in line for replacement payments of £60 to £240 a hectare depending on their land’s classification and the range of new management measures each farmer selected.

“Stock has been the main source of income generation on these farms but numbers were cut back, sometimes severely, to fall in line with NICMS demands for curbs in livestock farming activity on specific land types.”

“As a result these businesses are seeing worrying holes emerge in their cash flow at the same time as regular bills continue to come through – and unless DARD quickly gets to grips with its computer system their credit ratings, and the immediate needs of their families, could be damaged,” Mr Murnion added.

For more information contact:

Oisin Murnion, NBA Northern Ireland chairman. 
Tel: 02841 765082/07739 632048.