ANC

(Areas of Natural Constraint)

Originally known as Disadvantage Area Based Scheme has now be renamed to ANC (Areas of Natural Constraint) in 2015.  Basic requirement form this is based on a stocking density.  Payments are approximately in simple terms €40 per acre. 

They vary there on the table below for mountain type land with a max of 34ha’s. The threshold is 30ha’s for More and less severely handicapped areas.

Area Designation Payment Rate Payable Area

Mountain Type Land

(Max €4,240 for 34ha's)

€148

€112

First 12 hectares or part thereof*

Remaining hectares up to maximum of 34 hectares**

More Severely Handicapped Lowland

(Max €3,190 for 30ha's)

Less Severely Handicapped Lowland

(Max €2,685.50  for 30ha's)

 

€111

€104

 

€93

€88.25

First 10 hectares or part thereof*

For 11-30 ha's (Max 30 ha's)

 

First 8 hectares or part thereof*

For 9-30 ha's (Max 30 ha's)

The requirement for payment is to maintain a minimum stocking density on the farm for at least 7 months. The minimum stocking density is set at 0.10 Livestock Units per year therefore the farm must achieve 0.10 LU per hectare per year.

If you wish to keep the animals for 7 months – It must be consecutive! – You must maintain 0.10 LU per hectare for every day within that 7 months and also achieve the annual 0.10LU/ha. This should be stocking at approximately 0.2 Units per hectare for that 7 months to ensure the annual rate of 0.10 LU per hectare.

Payment is normally issued at the end of September each year if stocking rate is achieved.

 

Equines which are used for breeding purposes are also eligible if they can show that they have pedigree certs and they are actively breeding. Breeding mares, registered as having been on the applicant’s holding in 2023, which have bred a foal in either 2022 or 2021. Both the mare and the foal MUST be registered in a Stud Book approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

IMPORTANT – Please note that from 2020 only 50% of stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants will be required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% requirement.

 

Areas of Specific Constraints/Island Farming (Additional to ANC above)

A separate payment in respect of those farming off‐shore islands will apply. These islands are newly designated as Areas of Specific Constraints.
Rates payable are in respect of each forage hectare of Specific Constraints are as follows:

Area Designation Payment Rate Payable Area

Areas of Specific Constraints (Island)

(Max €8,820  for 40ha's)

€250.00

Up to and including the first 20 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints or part thereof

€170.00

Greater than 20 hectares or less than or equal to 34 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints

€70.00

Greater than 34 hectares or less than or equal to 40 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints