May 29th 2015

ICSA suckler chairman Dermot Kelleher and vice-chairman Hugh Farrell have called on Minister Coveney to clarify issues relating to the terms of Areas of Natural Constraint payments for those who are still awaiting herd numbers.

“One of the conditions of the ANC scheme is a requirement to maintain a minimum stocking rate of 0.15 LU/ha for at least seven consecutive months in 2015. However, Monday is June 1st, and farmers who haven’t yet received a herd number cannot purchase stock in their own names and so will be unable to fulfil this requirement,” said Mr. Kelleher.

“All that is needed here is some flexibility, but the Minister needs to ease the concerns of affected farmers by assuring them that they will not lose out as a result of the delay in issuing herd numbers,” added Mr. Farrell.