With the IFA stating that between 30,000 and 40,000 farmers in Munster are currently receiving ANC payments, the importance of the ANC review to farming families cannot be understated.

The IFA has highlighted three main priorities it would like to see addressed in the review. The first is that all areas that are currently receiving an ANC payment would continue to do so, and that other disadvantaged areas that were previously excluded would be included under the new criteria which offers a greater degree of flexibility.

Secondly, the IFA is again calling on the Government to restore the ANC budget to 2009 levels which would require an additional €50m to bring the total budget to €250m. The Government has already committed to increasing the budget to €225m for 2018. However, the IFA does not believe this is sufficient.

Natural disadvantage

Finally, IFA president Joe Healy reiterated that he wants to see payments reflect the natural disadvantage or handicap in the area with the islands, the mountains and the wetter parts of the country receiving higher payments. Front-loading of payments would also be an option, according to Healy. However, a definite budget needs to be known first.

Alongside the IFA president, a number of other IFA chairs and political representatives also addressed around 100 farmers in attendance. IFA rural development chair Joe Brady, IFA hill committee chair Pat Dunne, IFA rural development executive Gerry Gunning and MEP Deirdre Clune all spoke on what the review needs to achieve.

Flexibility

The panel highlighted that under the new criteria for designating land as disadvantaged there will be a greater degree of flexibility to bring in new land which may have been excluded in the last review.

Disadvantaged areas will now be based on a scientific approach, with factors such as rainfall, the slope of the land and how stony the land is among other factors being taken into account. However, the Irish review will be predominantly based on the degree of soil drainage and soil moisture excess.

While the entire panel stressed that the ANC maps currently being generated by the department should not be rushed, Gerry Gunning predicted that maps would have to be completed “by the middle of the year” if the review is to be implemented for 2018 ANC payments. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has previously mentioned June as the target.

Listen to an interview with IFA president Joe Healy, dairy farmer John Mullins and IFA Cork hill sheep chair Teddy Creane below:

Listen to "IFA meeting on ANC review in Fermoy" on Spreaker.

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