Fodder Support Scheme 2022

"It is proposed to pay up to €100 per hectare to applicants who grow grass for silage and/or hay in 2022. The Department, as part of the application process, will provide the number of grassland hectares declared in the applicants 2022 BPS application. The applicant must then declare how many hectares of silage and/or hay they will produce in 2022. If more than 10 hectares is declared, the applicant is only eligible for the maximum payment of 10 hectares. The applicant must have sufficient grassland parcels declared in their 2022 BPS application to support the area declared under the Fodder Support Scheme. If a farmer intends to take a second cut of silage, then the farmer must input the number of hectares for a 2nd cut at the time of application on the online form in the requisite space."

Responsibility of the Applicant

It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to familiarise themselves with the Scheme’s Terms and Conditions and with the consequences for breaches of the scheme.

The approval or payment of aid under the Scheme does not imply the acceptance by the Minister of any responsibility as regards the obligations undertaken by the applicant.

In duly justified cases withdrawals and reductions may be considered if the applicant has not been notified of an issue with their application or notified of an inspection. 

Any applicants wishing to withdraw from the scheme or reduce their area will be allowed to do so via email to DirectPaymentsCorrespondence@agriculture.gov.ie or via post to Fodder Support Scheme, Direct Payments Division, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laoise, R32 RPA6.

Applicants cannot amend the area claimed or withdraw from the Scheme after 23.59hrs on the 27th of August 2022.

The applicant must maintain a record to demonstrate the completion of the commitments in this Scheme.

The applicant must retain all receipts, documentation, and other evidence to prove compliance with the commitments of the Scheme.

The record must be made available on request for inspection and administrative checks by the Department.

Penalties

Penalties will be applied in circumstances where the action has not been completed or has only been partially completed. If the area declared exceeds the area determined, the aid shall be calculated based on the area determined up to a maximum of 10 hectares.

Scenario 1

If the difference between the declared area and the determined area is less than 5%, payment will be based on the area determined. However, if the difference is greater than 2 hectares the penalties as outlined below will be applied, irrespective of whether the difference is less than 5% or not. If the difference between the declared area and the determined area is equal to or less than 0.1 hectares, payment is based on the declared (claimed) area.

Scenario 2

If the difference between the declared area and the determined area is more than either 5% or 2 hectares, but not more than 20% of the area determined, payment will be based on the area determined. In addition, a penalty will apply which will be calculated on the difference between the area declared and the area determined.

Scenario 3

If the difference is more than 20% of the area determined, no aid shall be granted.

Scenario 4

If the difference is more than 50% of the area determined, no aid shall be granted. In addition, a penalty will apply which will be calculated on the difference between the area declared and the area determined.

Any penalty amounts shall be off set against aid payments under any of the payment schemes to which the farmer is entitled in the context of applications he/she lodges in the course of the three calendar years following the calendar year of the finding.

I see that there is only an option for two cuts.

Best to talk to your parents previous Ag advisor or contact the BPS section - https://www.gov.ie/en/service/f16b22-basic-payment-scheme/#contact

Ah for fecks sake do yourself a favour and read through the T&C's of the scheme.