CAP: 3 important planned delivery dates as BISS opens

The DAFM has, today (Wednesday), begun the roll-out of the country’s new €9.8bn CAP Strategic Plan, which came into effect on January 1^st, 2023.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today marked a major step forward in implementing Ireland’s CAP, with important announcements on key Pillar 1 (direct payments) and Pillar 2 (rural development) farm supports.

The application process for the new Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), as well as other area-based schemes, is now open, the DAFM confirmed.

Over the coming days, farmers will receive information in the post containing their BISS maps and land details for 2023, according to the DAFM.

Information on the new schemes, on the Area Monitoring System and a guide to staying healthy, safe, and well while farming, which Minister Heydon has supported and driven, will also be posted to farmers.

This information will assist farmers and their advisors in making their online BISS application, according to the DAFM.

With 2023 being the first year in the new CAP Strategic Plan, the DAFM is introducing a whole range of new schemes over a relatively short time period.

Important planned delivery dates include: 

• Closing date for BISS applications, will be midnight on Monday, May 29^th, 2023;
• Advance payment dates for ANC, BISS, CRISS and the Eco-scheme, which are expected to commence in October 2023;
• Dates for balancing payments and payments for other schemes, are expected to commence in December 2023.

Farmers must apply for BISS and other area-based payments using the department’s online facility (agfood.ie).

They must log onto www.agfood.ie and click on the BISS/area-based schemes link to start their applications.

Alternatively, farmers can contact a Farm Advisory System (FAS) approved advisor to make the application on their behalf.

8 schemes

Farmers can apply online on the BISS application system for the following schemes:

• Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS);
• Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS);
• Eco scheme;
• Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CIS-YF);
• Protein Aid;
• Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC);
• Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM);
• Annual claims for Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and/or Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), if applicable.

All farmers will also be notified over the coming weeks of the value of their payment entitlements, the DAFM has added.

Minister McConalogue also confirmed that the online systems for the following will open in mid-March 2023:

• Transferring Payment Entitlements and for applying for the National Reserve (Young Farmer and New Entrant);
• Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (the new Young Farmers’ Scheme).

Webinars and in-person information sessions

The DAFM will have a number of further specific supports in place for 2023, including:

• A series of public webinars will take place over the month of March;
• In-person information sessions;
• Farmer clinics will take place throughout the country from end-March to mid-May.

Dates for the aforementioned information sessions and farmer clinics will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

On a parting note, the minister concluded: “I urge all farmers and advisors to participate in these initiatives, and to engage with the application process as early as possible rather than wait until nearer the closing date.”