Pound 286.9million in Direct Payments to Northern Ireland farmers has issued on 1 September this year, Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, has confirmed.

Minister Poots said: "The ongoing disruption to agricultural markets, in particular due to the situation in Ukraine, is having a huge impact on farm businesses in Northern Ireland. To help them with cash flow, annual payments have commenced six weeks earlier than previous years. I am pleased to confirm that Pound 286.9million has issued to 23,208 farmers on 1 September. This is only possible because we have left the European Union and can now make decisions to suit local needs."

The Minister continued: "I am also pleased to announce that there has again been a one-off increase in Basic Payment Scheme payments, to ensure that all funding ring-fenced for this purpose is used. The increase in 2022 will be 2.04%."

Pound 286.9million has issued to 23,208 farmers (97% of eligible applicants) on the first day of payments. The small number of remaining applications will continue to be verified by DAERA, with payments being released daily from 1 September onwards. Payments will be the full payment due for 2022.  Payment letters will issue by post to all customers but can also be viewed online immediately via DAERA Online Services.