A change to the requirements could impact cattle sales, the Minister said.
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Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is not in favour of changing the stocking rate requirements for farmers to qualify for payment under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme.
Currently, farmers in ANC must maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for seven consecutive months to qualify for payments.
Responding to questions in the Dáil on Thursday from Fianna Fáil’s Jackie Chaill and Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, the Minister said a change to the requirements could impact cattle sales.
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Resistance
“I have resisted interfering with the stocking rate because people buying to meet stocking rate requirements are putting a floor on the price of live cattle at the moment,” Minister Creed said.
“If we were to tell people they do not have to meet the stocking density requirement for ANC payments, we would undermine that trade.
“What looks like a good idea on a superficial level would have an adverse impact on the price of store cattle and weanlings.”
He said eliminating the condition would also qualify a substantial number of farmers who have not previously applied for the scheme. As a result, the pot would have to be shared out to a larger number of farmers.
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Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is not in favour of changing the stocking rate requirements for farmers to qualify for payment under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme.
Currently, farmers in ANC must maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for seven consecutive months to qualify for payments.
Responding to questions in the Dáil on Thursday from Fianna Fáil’s Jackie Chaill and Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, the Minister said a change to the requirements could impact cattle sales.
Resistance
“I have resisted interfering with the stocking rate because people buying to meet stocking rate requirements are putting a floor on the price of live cattle at the moment,” Minister Creed said.
“If we were to tell people they do not have to meet the stocking density requirement for ANC payments, we would undermine that trade.
“What looks like a good idea on a superficial level would have an adverse impact on the price of store cattle and weanlings.”
He said eliminating the condition would also qualify a substantial number of farmers who have not previously applied for the scheme. As a result, the pot would have to be shared out to a larger number of farmers.
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