The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food has said farmers who plant on set-aside land and who hold entitlements for this land, will receive full payment on these entitlements.
This follows the agreement in Brussels on the introduction of a 0% compulsory set-aside requirement for 2008.
Under the 2008 rules, a farmer with 27 standard Single Payment entitlements and three set-aside entitlements who declares 30 hectares under arable and/or forage crops in his or her 2008 Single Payment application will receive the full Single Payment in respect of 2008.
In excess of 28,000 hectares is currently set-aside in Ireland under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme.
Under existing rules, land is set-aside for the period 15 January to 31 August. During this time it is forbidden to use such land for any agricultural production.
However, during the period 1 September to 14 January the land may be used for forage production or grazing.
However, farmers who decide to set-aside lands in 2008 will continue to receive their full set-aside entitlements.
The position regarding set-aside in respect of subsequent years will be fully considered at EU level as part of the forthcoming CAP Health Check, scheduled for later this year.
