Change in query contacts for BPS scheme
FARMERS have been advised that this year some query notifications as regards their 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are only being issued by email or via the Department’s SMS text messaging service.
Up until this year, any farmer who had to reply to a query from the Dept. of Agriculture as regards the BPS received a notification in the post but an important change has occurred in 2020.
Where a farmer has an approved agricultural advisor, the query notification will only issue via an email to this consultant or by SMS text message.
However, farmers who have not signed up to the messaging system or who don’t have an authorised advisor will continue to receive postal notifications, the Dept. of Agriculture have confirmed.
According to the Department, this latest change ‘will help to ensure BPS applications can be processed in an efficient manner as the Dept. continues to respond to COVID-19 related restrictions.
Where farmers receive query notifications from the Dept., full details can be accessed on the agfood.ie system used for applying for BPS, according to the Department.
They have also advised farmers that farmers who wish to contact the Dept. can do so by ringing the Direct Payments Helpline at 076-1064420 – if the query can’t be dealt with on this line a follow-up will issue by post from the Department.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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