Payments worth €185m began issuing to 86,000 farmers on Wednesday, as part of the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme. The money represents 85% of an applicant’s 2020 ANC payment, with balancing payments worth 15% due to commence in early December. This change was introduced in 2019 as part of EU legislation.

When announcing the payments, Minister Charlie McConalogue said: “I am conscious of the many challenges faced by farmers during 2020 and the importance of the timely delivery of payments under the ANC scheme.

“With this in mind, I am happy to confirm that the 86,000 farmers being paid in this first tranche of 2020 advance payments is an increase from the €168.5m paid to 79,000 farmers at this stage in 2019.”

Payments under the 2019 ANC scheme were made to 99,147 applicants, meaning that if the same number of farmers are deemed eligible in 2020, there are in the region of 13,000 farmers awaiting payment.

The main reason for these applicants not reciving payment under the first tranche is due to insufficient stocking rates.

As a condition of the scheme, applicants have to maintain an average stocking rate of at least 0.15LU/ha over the calendar year and adhere to a retention period of a stocking rate of 0.15LU/ha over seven consecutive months.

Farmers have until 31 December to meet these requirements. The Department is advising farmers to submit any outstanding stocking rate evidence in support of their application, such as a flock register for example, to the Department’s Portlaoise office as soon as possible, to facilitate the early release of payments.

Such cases will be processed once this requirement has been confirmed with the Department practicing regular payment runs, to ensure payments reach farmers as soon as possible.

Minister McConalogue added: “These payments represent a timely and significant financial boost for farmers and for the wider rural economy. My Department will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet the scheme criteria.”

The Minister also confirmed that arrangements are on target to facilitate payment of the advance of 70% under the Basic Payment Scheme from 16 October 2020.