The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that payment under the ANC (Areas of Natural Constraint) Scheme to 95,000 farmers will commence early next week, according to IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association) Deputy President Richard Kennedy.

Speaking on the matter, Kennedy said: “This payment is worth more than €200 million to farmers. It is vital at this time, particularly given the very difficult weather conditions over the past month.”

Kennedy noted that paying out next week for the ANC is in line with the Charter of Farmers’ Rights and the IFA expects the maximum to be paid out at this stage.

The IFA Deputy President said this payment must be followed by a 70% advance of the Basic Payment Scheme on October 16 to 130,000 farmers.

Kennedy added that payments under GLAS (Green Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme) and other schemes should also come along in November/December.

Direct payments worth €1.7 billion are due to farmers between now and the end of the year.

The IFA has said it will be demanding that all schemes are paid on time, and there is no repeat of the GLAS problems of earlier this year.

In other IFA news, Joe Healy is set to stay on as the President of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), having returned unopposed in the IFA elections.

Being the only nominee when the nominations closed for the position of president, Healy will begin his second term in January 2018.

The dairy farmer from Co. Galway was first elected into the role in April 2016, becoming the 15th President of the IFA in the process.

Healy’s reappointment comes as the IFA’s National Returning Officer, Jer Bergin, announced that nominations have closed for the positions of president, deputy president and regional chairmen – for which elections take place every two years.

The IFA’s Deputy President, Richard Kennedy, was also returned unopposed following the announcement.