Herd number worries eased in ANC scheme
“The Department will expect the farmer to have animals in place within two weeks of having been granted a herd number,” said ICMSA President, John Comer.
Up to mid-May, the Department of Agriculture had processed over 3,000 new herd number applications this year, and over 3,200 amendments to existing herd numbers.
About 3,000 applications for new herd numbers and amendments were being processed in mid-May.
Increased herd number activity is linked to interest in the National Reserve and Young Farmers Schemes, and to Basic Payments Scheme applications.
Farmers waiting to be allocated a herd number cannot purchase livestock in their own names, so were in danger of not meeting the minimum stocking rate for the €195m per year disadvantaged (now re-named Areas of Natural Constraint) payments.
For these payments, farmers have to maintain at least 0.15 livestock units per hectare for at least seven consecutive months in 2015.
But ICMSA President John Comer said this week the Department of Agriculture has confirmed to ICMSA that farmers waiting for a herd number will qualify for the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme in 2015, provided they meet the conditions of the scheme for the remainder of the year, after receiving their herd number.
He complimented the Department for its reasonable and fair approach.
The scheme contributes to the support of almost 100,000 Irish farm families.
Contract rearing of animals will count for stocking rate criteria in the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme. This is one of the changes welcomed by IFA Rural Development Chairman, Flor McCarthy.
He also said GLAS farmers who opt for the Wild Bird cover measure will not lose this area for ANC payment, if they have less than 34ha in mountain areas or 30ha in severely and less handicapped areas.
The top-up payment for 900 island farmers (whether residing or not) is €250/ha on the first 20ha, €150/ha on the next 14ha, and €70/ha on the next 6ha.
Farmers excluded due to the 2011 requirement of 0.3 livestock units per hectare can qualify for the 2015 scheme.
Equines (including donkeys) are eligible as part of the stocking requirement if they are part of a breeding enterprise.
Farmers must farm the land for the full 12 months, and have a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock units per hectare for seven consecutive months, and an average of 0.15 lu/ha for the full 12 months.
Lower stocking rates can be used in commonage areas, in line with the minimum and maximum figures.
Young farmers setting up in 2015 can avail of ANC payment, if they have the land for the full 12 months.
Farmers in registered partnerships can avail individually of separate payment, up to and including the maximum area of payment.
Farmers with mountain type land will receive a payment of €109.71 per hectare for the first 10ha, and €95.99/ha for the next 14 hectares. This will allow for a maximum payment of €3,440.96 per farmer next September.
For more severely handicapped lowland farmers, the payment rate per hectare will be €95.99, up to 30 hectares, giving a maximum individual payment of €2,879.70.
The less severely handicapped lowland rate payment is €82.27 per hectare for up to 30 hectares, giving a maximum payment in this category of 2,483.10c
A review of the Areas of Natural Constraint has been put back until 2018, when new criteria will be used to define classified areas.
