Ritchie Calls For Action Over Farm Payments

[/caption] “Following several representations to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the local farming community.  The Minister’s department have advised that it will be 31st December 2011 before all payments are made to those who applied for the Countryside Management Scheme in 2011. “Work that would be eligible for this payment had to be completed before 31st December 2010. This agreement was signed up to by the farmers applying to the scheme. In many cases farmers have been left at a considerable financial loss as they wait for this long overdue payment . At first farmers were told they would be paid in May 2011 and then advised they would receive payment in July 2011. Following the significant delay from May for this payment, I asked the Minister for clarification on the issue. In response to my Assembly question, the Minister stated that she ‘anticipates that all outstanding claims will be made before 31st December 2011′. “In these difficult economic times the farming community should not be subject to such delays in payments for work completed a year ago. The Department must prioritise this work. I understand that even at this stage there will be further delays, as the Department are advising there will be a least one month between inspection and payment. “The Minster needs to take action to give real priority to these outstanding inspections and the processing of the payments, and must ensure that this situation is not repeated in future years,”  added Ms Ritchie.]]>