Qualification for Pillar I payments on commonage must be based on realistic stocking figures, IFA Hill Committee Chairman Pat Dunne said this week. He was setting out his priorities ahead of the upcoming review of Commonage Framework Plans. The minimum/maximum numbers which were issued some time ago to farmers by the Department of Agriculture must be revised as they have been proven to be inaccurate in many instances, he said.

“The ANC payment should be based on what the stocking rate in the framework plan - even if this is lower than 0.15lu/ha,” he said. “Regarding GLAS, the inclusion of active farmers only in the management agreement or where more than 50% of the area is covered by the agreement, is sensible. However, where this is difficult to achieve it is important that an appeals system is put in place to ensure that all active farmers qualify for the scheme. The variability that exists on commonages must be taken into account and flexibility must be shown.”