Producers who were involved in orchard or nursery crop production in 2007 are eligible to apply for SFP entitlements.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms to the fruit and vegetable sector were agreed by the EU Agricultural Council on 12 June 2007 and are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1182/2007. This reform now allows Orchard and Nursery Stock producers to be included in the Single Farm Payment structure.
Ulster Farmers' Union and Northern Ireland Fruit Growers Association Chairman, Bertie Anderson, urges all orchard and nursery stock producers to return their Application Forms to claim their award for Single Farm Payment Entitlements immediately.
The Fruit Growers Association encourages all who consider themselves eligible to apply for SFP entitlements as an orchard or nursery crop producer, and who have not received an application form DARD, to contact the Department to request one immediately.
The number of entitlements allocated to producers will equal the area used to grow orchard and/or nursery crops in 2007 and the value of each entitlement will be €78.33/ha. Entitlements can be used to claim SFP from the 2009 SFP Scheme year and future years
Application Forms and Notes for Guidance are also available on request from Orchard House, telephone 028 7131 9900 or contact local DARD offices.
All completed applications must be returned to Single Farm Payment Branch, Orchard House, 40 Foyle Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6AT or the nearest local DARD office on or before 12 September 2008.
Applications received after this date will not be accepted, except in the case of exceptional circumstances and Orchard and Nursery Stock producers will have missed their opportunity to be included for allocation of Single Farm Payment Entitlements.