A proposal to make the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme optional for EU countries rather than mandatory under the next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) has sparked anger from the organisation representing hill farmers.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) has hit out at proposals that will make the ANC voluntary for member states under the CAP from 2028 to 2034.

It is understood that farm organisations were informed of the possible changes through the government's CAP Consultative Committee on CAP post-2027.

The INHFA has slammed the potential ANC changes as a "betrayal of critical farming systems".

According to the INHFA, the current CAP proposal on the table states that countries "may" provide support for farmers in areas of natural constraint.

The organisation wants to see the wording changed to 'shall', thereby making it mandatory for members states to provide additional support for this cohort of farmers.

INHFA president Pheilim Molloy criticised Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, who currently chairs meetings of EU agriculture ministers.

Molloy said that the ANC payment is a "critical support" for farmers on constrained land.

"So to leave this payment hanging by a thread and dependent on public finances or the whims of a minister it totally unacceptable," he added.

Molloy claimed this change could see "these lands left on much reduced payments" under the Degressive Area-Based Income Support (DABIS), which will effectively replace the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).

Molloy called on Minister Heydon to reverse course on ANC.

He also said that, if the minister "is not willing to do this", then government TDs in rural areas "need to engage the minister on this, as we will be with both them and the minister".

It is understood that an emergency meeting of the INHFA senior leadership is set to take place to discuss the possible changes to the ANC.

CAP post-2027

It was announced late last night (Monday, October 26) that EU member states have agreed on the format of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028 to 2034.

This 'partial general approach' will form the basis of the Council of the EU's opinion when it starts negotiations with the European Parliament on the next CAP.

Therefore, this agreed approach from member states will not necessarily reflect exactly how the next CAP will look.

The agreement by member states would see the end of the traditional two-pillar CAP approach, to be replaced by a single funding structure.