Farming payments started TODAY: 21,000 NI farmers will get £3.6m

Agriculture and environment minister Edwin Poots made the announcement last night, saying the payments will total of £3.6million.

The payments are described as “reimbursements” from the European Commission, under the “financial discipline mechanism”.

This is a process which sees funds deducted from farm payments and set aside into a ‘crisis reserve’ pot, which can then be released later to farmers in certain circumstances.

Welcoming the reimbursement, minister Poots said: “Approximately 21,000 farmers in Northern Ireland will receive Financial Discipline Reimbursement payments this week.

“This is money our farmers are entitled to and would normally be paid in December each year when balance payments are being issued.

“As confirmation has now been received from the European Commission on the UK reimbursement, I have authorised these further payments to commence.

“As we are leaving the EU it will mean there will no longer be a Financial Discipline applied in advance, and therefore farmers will receive their full entitlement each year and no refund will be required the following year.”

Payments were to begin being issued today, and should reach farmers’ bank accounts within five working days.

Payment letters will issue by post but can also be viewed online immediately at DAERA Online Services.

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