AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA today (6 November) announced the rates for the 2013 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Scheme.
The Minister said: “Despite continued pressures on my Department’s budget and a reduction in the value of the euro, I can now confirm that for payments issuing in 2013, the rates will remain at the same level as they have been for the past three years.
“I know that these payments are hugely important to our hill farmers and it was a priority to me to ensure that these rates were not reduced.
“The payment rates for the 2013 Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) Scheme will be £23.81 per hectare for Disadvantaged Areas and Common Land and £47.62 per hectare for Severely Disadvantaged Areas.”
Turning to the timing of payments, the Minister added: “It is my intention that payments will begin to issue in early March 2013, with the majority being paid by the end of March. I am sure that these payments will be welcomed by hill farmers and should provide a boost to the rural economy”.
