Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)

The ANC scheme provides payments to those farming land in designated areas face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems and poor soil conditions. These are areas designated as disadvantaged. ANC can be applied for through a BISS application declaring land in an eligible ANC townland.

Designation of ANC lands and payment rates depends on category and number of hectares. Discuss with your advisor. Minimum stocking rate is reduced from 0.15 to 0.10 livestock unit per forage hectare. In most cases stocking rate from the previous year can be used, however if a farmer wishes, the current year can be used. Where justified on environmental grounds, a lower stocking requirement may apply.

Support is provided based on the following categories of land:

• Category 1 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 1 is characterised by extensive farming practices focused on livestock management on higher ground.
• Category 2 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 2 is characterised by extensive livestock grazing practices on lower ground.
• Category 3 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 3 is less extensive in nature and characterised by grazing livestock enterprises.
• Offshore island land: Island holdings are generally small and fragmented where the potential for intensification is limited and farming is economically marginal, at best. Farming on the off-shore islands off Ireland is in continuous decline.

Required

• maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.10 livestock units per forage hectare for 28 consecutive weeks/ 7 months within the calendar year
• maintain an annual average stocking density of 0.10 livestock units per forage hectare for the calendar year

In most cases stocking rate from the previous year can be used, however if a farmer wishes, they can use the current year. Where justified on environmental grounds, a lower stocking requirement may apply.

Horse breeding enterprises and donkeys are considered for stocking density eligibility subject to conditions:

• Must have equine premises number
• All equines must have valid passport in the applicants name
• Equines only accepted from date of registration or transfer of ownership
• Certified copies of passports must be submitted to DAFM ANC section
• Details of equines used to fulfil stocking density requirements may be checked against the data returned in the equine census
• The following equines are then eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation
  • All equines aged one year to five years (aged using 1 January), registered in a studbook approved by DAFM with pedigree recorded (sire and dam) and registered in name of applicant and maintained on his/her holding.
  • Breeding mares registered as having been on the applicant’s holding in the previous year, which have bred a foal in either that previous year or the year previous again. Both the mare and foal must be registered in a studbook approved by DAFM, with pedigree recorded (sire and dam).
  • Donkeys are eligible if owned by the applicant, who holds a valid passport with the donkey registered in the name of the applicant and donkeys maintained on the applicants holding. NOTE only 50% of stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Other livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, or horses (or deer subject to onsite inspection) would need to make up the balance.

Application for ANC is through BISS.  Read more about BISS here.  Read more about ANC here