It has been possible again since 1 March 2019 to fill in the Combined Statement, which must be completed and sent by 15 May at the latest. What changes are there compared to last year, and how can you make it easier to fill in the statement?
The Combined declaration is a combination of the agricultural census, the application for the payment of payment rights and subsidies and the declaration of the plots. Below are a number of changes that have taken place this year in the Combined assignment.
1. Broad weather insurance
The 'subsidies' section shows that the number of options for broad weather insurance has been reduced. Compensation for broad weather insurance premiums can no longer be requested from the insurers Avéro Achmea and Interpolis.
2. Value of payment entitlements
The value of the payment rights is the same for 2019 and amounts to €262,91 this year. That is why the option to have the more expensive rights paid out first is no longer available. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) is now focusing on maintaining payment rights, especially as a guideline for the order of payment. These expire if the payment rights are not used for 2 years in a row.
3. Greening requirements
The greening requirement is that 5% of arable land (this also applies to temporary grassland) is filled with an Ecological Focus Area. Organic arable land is exempt from this requirement. In 2018, the size requirements for field edges and landscape elements were abolished, but this caused a lot of uncertainty.
Therefore, from January 1, 2019, the width or size of a landscape element may be 3 times the maximum surface area or width of an element. In 2019, fallow land (from at least March 15 to November 15), on which there is a mixture of gestation plants and one of which is always flowering, may also be designated as an Ecological Focus Area (weighting factor of 1).
4. Manure processing
In previous years, the agricultural census had to indicate the expectations for this year's manure treatment and processing. Instead, this year the situation of last year must be filled in. The question remains whether the questions about the storage capacity for animal manure will no longer be answered.
5. Authorization for trade organization
The option to authorize the trade organization has also disappeared. Last year this was possible, in order to finance joint research. "Most growers have now authorized us, so it is no longer necessary to offer this option again. Approximately 90% of the growers have authorized us via RVO.nl and 10% have provided us with the data themselves. Growers who have If the contribution for 2018 has not been provided with their area data, they will be notified and legal measures may be taken," said Matthé Elema, the director of the Arable Farming Trade Organization.
6. Payments to young farmers
This year, extra attention must be paid to the payment for young farmers. There is a difference between the extra payment for young farmers and young farmers who apply for payment entitlements from the 'National reserve'. The difference is that a young farmer can apply for more money per hectare with the 'Additional payment for young farmers', in addition to the basic and greening payment. This can be requested for a maximum of 5 years.
A young farmer can also apply for payment entitlements from the 'National reserve'. This is possible for hectares for which no payment rights are currently available (the free hectares). RVO.nl determines the number of free hectares by offsetting the eligible agricultural land with the number of payment rights owned on May 15, 2019. If the number of payment rights is higher, the number of rights granted in 2015 is taken into account. The young person can use these rights farmer then have it paid out again.
It is important that these young farmers meet certain requirements. For example, it must have long-term authority and the jurisdictional provisions must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) no later than May 15, 2019. If one of the partners has 'unrestricted authority', the young farmer does not have sufficient control and the additional payment cannot be paid.
When specifying the plots, there are also some changes to the crop codes. For example, corn cob silage (MKS) must be reported separately with crop code 1935. Onion growers must also pay attention: the crop code '1931 Onions, seed and plant (including shallots)' has been split into '1932 Onions, seed and plant first-year', '1933 Onions, plant and plant second year' and '1934 Shallots'. RVO.nl checks the registration of the plots on the basis of aerial photographs.
7. Changes to the construction plan
Changes to the construction plan can be submitted without discount until May 31. If a change is made after May 31 to the last day of the discount period (June 11, 2019), the subsidy amount will be reduced. Changes introduced after June 11 will no longer be included. An exception applies to catch crops in the Ecological Focus Area.
8. Arranging eHerkenning
In several cases it may be important to arrange 'eHerkenning' as quickly as possible. This may be necessary, for example, in the event of a business transfer or another situation in which a new Chamber of Commerce number has been obtained. This is a matter of urgency, because the waiting time at eHerkenning suppliers is sometimes long.
9. Payment rights for (rental) rental
It is important for tenants or landlords of land that when they rent or lease land with payment rights, they must ensure that the transfer of the payment rights has taken place on time. Both the renting and renting parties must accept the transfer of rights in a timely manner. May 15, 2019 is the reference date for the number of payment entitlements that are included in the payment; anything after that date no longer applies to payment year 2019.
This article lists the most important changes, but not all of them. For all changes, more tips and details you can this page to look at.