INHFA welcomes the introduction of an identification system by the Department

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has welcomed the introduction of an identification system by the Department of Agriculture where administration staff will have the ability to identify certain farmers who have specific constraints attached to their holdings, according to INHFA CAP committee chair Colm O'Donnell.

Farmers who are unable to maintain the 0.15 LU/ha stocking rate for the ANC scheme on land parcels, due to compliance with agri-environmental measures such as GLAS, AEOS, SAC, SPA, CFP, etc, can seek a stocking density derogation on these land parcels from the Department.

While Department records can confirm farmers availing of a stocking density lower than 0.15 LU/ha annually, the INHFA says it seems to create havoc each year in the administration process of clearing ANC payments to affected farmers on time.

According to the INHFA, the Deparment is currently writing to farmers identified on the system as requiring a stocking derogation with a pre-printed application form identifying land parcels requiring the annual derogation. This will enable administration staff to systematically capture the lower stocking restriction at parcel level on affected holdings in advance of processing 2016 ANC applications. Once identified, these farmers may be exempt in future years, O'Donnell said.

He advised that farmers need to carefully examine the form with their planner, so that the information matches with the 2016 BPS application form and return it to the Direct Payments Unit, DAFM Government offices, Portlaoise, Co Laois, without delay.