A farm lobby group’s deputy leader has called for the review of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC, formerly Disadvantaged Areas) to be published to farmers “immediately”.
The deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), Lorcan McCabe, also said that an appeals procedure will have to be put in place so that farmers unhappy with the outcome can appeal the decision.
The review was carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and McCabe said the findings must be published “so that farmers know exactly where they stand”.
It is now just two months from the start of 2019 and there are still no guidance maps published – or any guidance at all – as to the possible inclusion or exclusion of a farm.
The deputy president added that farmers will have “little time” to appeal a decision before the ANC application submission in May 2019.
Lorcan McCabe, ICMSA deputy president
“The ANC payment is an important part of farm income and it is unacceptable that farmers are left in the dark as to their status for 2019.
“It’s worth repeating that, for those farmers who will be excluded under the review, this is a huge issue for them and would represent a substantial cut in their farm income, so they need to know now what is happening,” he said.
Everywhere farmers look they see huge uncertainties in 2019, whether it’s Brexit, climate, emissions or the CAP post 2020.
McCabe concluded: “The ANC review is another big uncertainty for farmers and the department needs to move immediately to reassure farmers of their ANC status and then introduce an independent appeals procedure.”