what would you like to see in new farmers charter

djmc

http://www.ifa.ie/ifa-calls-on-minister-coveney-to-stop-footdragging-on-farmers-charter/#.VT-GSJ9wbqA
Well as the title what would you like to see.
I would like to see deadlines for the department
The same as farmers have deadline for grant applications paying tax etc.
If a farmer missed the deadline he is penalised
Cut in payments interest charges on late payments etc.
Wouldn't it only be fair that if the department hold up payments the farmer should be paid the same level of interest on top of their payment.
Or if they miss a deadline responding to appeals etc the penalty should be scrapped.
I find it totally unfair that farmers can be left waiting years for payments or appeals with no timeline of when or how much they will be paid.

joejobrien

Havent read in detail all the propsals,
but one that comes to mind is a yellow card system, or call it what ever one likes. It would take some of the dread of out farm inspection without a penalty.
.......more to follow

Buford T. Justice XIX

I would like the farmer to be able to call a representative to the inspection for each official carrying out the inspection.

I had 2 here for most of the day and it was bloody intimidating despite they finding nothing wrong.

And an end to unannounced inspections. We have other responsibilities that require our presence also so they should make a booking in advance, similar to us having to queue to get a question answered rather than demanding an instant response to our query.

I could go on but i would only raise my blood pressure:o

patjack

Would like the dept divisions to answer calls made during office hours. Too frequently I get transferred from the switchboard for no-one in the relevant dept to pick up. Farcical in this day and age.

Also as previously stated, defined payment dates, 1 year in advance. So that we as farmers can budget correctly for creditors, spending etc.

blue5000

Independent appeals system for dept ag inspections.
I've asked to see my file under 'freedom' of information. I'd have to wait 30 'working' days and pay a fee. I told them you'd have everything well tidied up in 6 weeks.
I'd like 28 days notice of an inspection too.
A closed period for inspections, by that I mean if we are inspected on 1st dec for example, payments should not be delayed for 2 or 3 months because the dept hasn't finished paper work. If they can't finish the paperwork on time the penalty should roll over to the following year's payment.

Buford T. Justice XIX

blue5000 wrote: »

Independent appeals system for dept ag inspections.
I've asked to see my file under 'freedom' of information. I'd have to wait 30 'working' days and pay a fee. I told them you'd have everything well tidied up in 6 weeks.
I'd like 28 days notice of an inspection too.
A closed period for inspections, by that I mean if we are inspected on 1st dec for example, payments should not be delayed for 2 or 3 months because the dept hasn't finished paper work. If they can't finish the paperwork on time the penalty should roll over to the following year's payment.

No, any interest accruing from the delay in payment should be borne by the inspector. That would drastically reduce the time to payments;)

Sam Kade

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I would like the farmer to be able to call a representative to the inspection for each official carrying out the inspection.

I had 2 here for most of the day and it was bloody intimidating despite they finding nothing wrong.

And an end to unannounced inspections. We have other responsibilities that require our presence also so they should make a booking in advance, similar to us having to queue to get a question answered rather than demanding an instant response to our query.

I could go on but i would only raise my blood pressure:o

unannounced inspections, they just waltz in during the morning assuming you can forget about your plans for the day. Remember when they wanted to inspect dairy farmers milking and scraped it because they were driving the cows daft with their pen scratching at the end of the pit.

blue5000

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

No, any interest accruing from the delay in payment should be borne by the inspector. That would drastically reduce the time to payments;)

Oh the fooking blood pressure is rising, waiting on a few quid here from them.

What I meant was have a cut off date, maybe 1st October so that if you hadn't had an inspection by that date, then you were cleared and guaranteed all payments by the year end. Instead of an inspection in the run up to the end of the year delaying everything and causing havoc with repayments etc.

kowtow

I think rather than a farmers charter (unless it has real teeth, which I doubt) I'd like to see specific sections of the mergers legislation redrafted to ensure that monopolies, duopolies etc. can't arise amongst purchasers. We don't tolerate monopolies selling to consumers and we shouldn't tolerate them buying primary products from farmers - even when they appear to arise out of the best intentions.

Nekarsulm

How about a clause compelling the Department to notify an applicant of boundary problems, etc. on receipt of an application?
Not 5 months later on the date you are expecting the payment to issue.

How about adopting a flexible approach to the business of "calendar" farming, as is practised in Northern Ireland?
For example, in NI, if you have a fine dry spell of weather in January you can spread slurry. If you spread in a wet spell, or on frozen ground or on snow, you are in trouble.
Farmers there are credited with having a modicum of common sense, and accept responsibility.

Its the difference between being treated like a school child, and an adult.

foxy farmer

Up to date satellite imagery please. Not 4 or 5 year old photos.
Currently in dispute with dept over deduction they've made in this years map.