The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening with effect from 2015. All farmers eligible for payment under the BPS Scheme are subject to Greening. However, certain exemptions apply meaning, in very broad terms, that it is the arable sector that have obligations under Greening.
The Greening ceiling is calculated as a fixed % (30%) of the annual National ceiling. The Greening ceiling that currently applies for the relevant years is as set out as follows:
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
€364,501,000.00
|
€364,041,000.00
|
€363,570,000.00
|
€363,445,000.00
|
€363,320,000.00
|
The value of the Greening payment per eligible farmer is calculated as a fixed percentage of the total value of entitlements activated by that farmer. Currently the fixed percentage stands at approximately 44%. This fixed percentage is calculated annually by dividing the Greening ceiling for that year by the total value of all payment entitlements activated in that year and as such the fixed percentage may vary from year to year.