The Department of Agriculture began informing farmers today how much money they will receive under the new European Union subsidy system.
The department posted out statements of payment entitlements to 120,000 farmers around the country this afternoon.
The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, described the move as a milestone.
Under the new system, known as ‘decoupling’, farmers will no longer be paid subsidies on the amount of food they produce or the number of animals they own.
Instead, from next January, they will get one single annual payment which is based on production levels earlier in the decade.
Problem cases are to be assessed separately and farmers unhappy with their assessment can have it reviewed. The payments total €1.3bn with the average subsidy estimated at €10,000.
Mr Walsh said farmers could now produce for the market rather than keeping animals merely to maximise their subsidies.
