Following my decision that all direct payments under the livestock premia and arable aid schemes will be decoupled from production with effect from 1 January 2005 and be replaced by the single payment scheme, I decided that farmers who feel that their farming enterprise was adversely affected by force majeure— exceptional circumstances could apply to my Department to have their case considered. Advertisements to this effect appeared in the national and farming press during the week ending 13 December 2003.
An application, received from the person named on 21 January 2004, is currently under consideration and the person named will be notified of my Department's decision in due course.