: Participants in the afforestation premium scheme must submit a single payment scheme application in 2005 and are obliged to declare all the land parcels in their holding — owned, rented and leased.
All land parcels in receipt of payment under the afforestation premium scheme must also be registered on this Department's land parcel identification system with a unique identification number. Failure to register afforested parcels under this scheme on that system could affect future premium payments.
Participants in the afforestation premium scheme should shade the circle at 11 on the front of the single payment scheme application form and also enter their forestry contract number in the space provided on the front of the single payment scheme application form and ensure that all land parcels, including the land parcels afforested in accordance with the afforestation premium scheme are detailed on the back of the form.
Farmers who afforested lands since 2000 and do not have sufficient lands to benefit from their full single payment can apply to consolidate their single payment entitlements on their declared lands in 2005. Such farmers should complete the consolidation application form and submit it with their single payment application form.
Farmers should consider carefully the consequences of consolidation if there is a possibility they might wish to avail of the early retirement scheme or might wish to retire from farming within the next five years. Consolidated entitlements are allocated from the national reserve and cannot be sold or leased for five years. These entitlements must also be claimed each year for five years, failing which the unclaimed entitlements will revert to the national reserve.
These farmers will continue to receive the afforestation aid on the planted lands and if successful in their application to consolidate their entitlements, will also benefit from their full single payment.