A significant number of delayed payments under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) relate to applicants currently not meeting the target stocking densities. The Department explains that it will continue to monitor stocking rates and once rates of at least 0.15LU/ha over the calendar year and the minimum of 0.15LU/ha over a seven-month consecutive retention period are met, payment will be released. This may require submission of an applicant’s flock register where there are questions over the rate, with cattle stocking rates picked up automatically through the AIM system.