DAERA confirms Direct Payments exchange rate and Young Farmers’ Payment rate.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced the exchange rate to be used to calculate 2018 Direct Payments and the Young Farmers’ Payment.
Sterling payments for the Direct Payments (Basic Payment Scheme, Greening Payment and Young Farmers’ Payment) will be made using the exchange rate of €1 = £0.89281. On the basis of the new rate, it is estimated that the total net value of 2018 Direct Payments to local farmers will be reduced by £0.61million compared to 2017.
Direct Payments are set in Euro and converted to sterling each year using the exchange rate calculated in accordance with the EU regulations. In 2018, the rate is the average market rate for the month of September according to the European Central Bank.
The 2018 Young Farmers’ Payment will be paid at the rate of £46.32 per hectare. Young Farmers’ Payment is made on a per hectare basis up to a limit to 90 hectares.
