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Farmers camp out for EU grants Farm grant plans 'break EU rules'
(about 5 hours later)
Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has said the 'first-come, first-served' system of giving grants to farmers to modernise their businesses was fair. The Department of Agriculture may be forced to scrap its decision to allocate new farming grants on a first come, first served basis.
Michael Mann, a spokesman for the Agriculture Commissioner, said the department's methods were "unacceptable" and broke EC rules.
"A first come, first served basis is not an acceptable way of doing this," Mr Mann said.
He was speaking after hundreds of farmers queued overnight to get grants.
However, NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has defended her decision saying there was "no easy way" to allocate the money for modernising farms.
Mr Mann said the commissioner's office had written to Dard to explain that the first-come first-served procedure was unacceptable.
"When it comes to modernisation methods like the ones we are talking about in the Northern Irish case, the rules say that you have to make the decision on who gets the money based on clear criteria," he said.
"We have been in contact with the Northern Ireland authorities and told them that a first come, first served basis is not an acceptable way of doing this."
Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.
'Unwieldy'
The £6m funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.The £6m funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.
"We knew there was going to be no easy way," said the minister.
Some farmers had been in the queue since Sunday ahead of Tuesday's 0900 GMT opening.Some farmers had been in the queue since Sunday ahead of Tuesday's 0900 GMT opening.
"If we had done assessment panels it would have been a lot more bureaucratic and a lot more unwieldy," said Ms Gildernew. "If we had done assessment panels it would have been a lot more bureaucratic and a lot more unwieldy," argued Ms Gildernew.
The minister said two more sets of grants would be handed out to farmers.
The EU rural development programme grants are designed to help improve animal welfare and farm efficiency.The EU rural development programme grants are designed to help improve animal welfare and farm efficiency.
The farmers whose grant applications are successful will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems. Farmers who receive grant applications will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems.
If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.
Ms Gildernew said it was an "important boost to the economy", because many of the items on the approved list have been made in Northern Ireland.Ms Gildernew said it was an "important boost to the economy", because many of the items on the approved list have been made in Northern Ireland.
Applications
It is understood the Department of Agriculture will allow a number of postal applications to be picked at random from the many thousands which are expected but the bulk of the grants will go to people who make it to the department's regional offices on Tuesday.
Farmers in Ballymena began queuing on Sunday afternoon in the town centre.
One man believed his two night "sit-out" would be worth it.
"I want to modernise the farm in order to leave it easier to work for a one-man operation. Given the current economic climate and farming, it is worth it."
A woman, who was number 76 in queue, said she had, at least, more of a chance than the long line of those waiting behind her.
But one farmer said the "first come, first served" tactic for handing out grants, was unfair.
"A lot of people are queueing here for nothing," he said. "The government needs to have a look at the way they introduced this. If you're not in you cannot win, but I don't think I'll win this time."
There were large queues at offices in Coleraine and Dungannon, Newry, Armagh, Downpatrick, Enniskillen and Omagh.
The modernising programme has six main aims:
  • To introduce new technologies and innovation;
  • To improve animal health and welfare;
  • To increase hygiene control and product storage;
  • To enhance occupational safety and business efficiency;
  • To increase energy efficiency; and
  • To enhance the environmental impact of farming techniques.