Farmers with disadvantaged land are set to receive a cash boost from increased ANC rates and a hike in forestry payments. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed will submit new ANC rates for approval by the European Commission as follows:

  • Mountain-type land: €135/ha for the first 10ha (+€25.28/ha) and €112 for the next 24ha (+€16.01/ha).
  • More severe handicap: €104/ha (+€8.01/ha).
  • Less severe handicap: €88.25/ha (+€5.98/ha).

    • IFA president Joe Healy welcomed “the start of the reversal of cuts to the important scheme imposed in 2009” and the association was satisfied with an allocation that benefits all farmers but favours those with most difficult land.

    Meanwhile, those who plant forestry on marginal land will see an increase of up to 7% in grants and premiums, the Irish Farmers Journal can exclusively reveal.

    The announcements come as the European Commission outlined three possible scenarios for the CAP budget from 2020, with the most severe leading to a 10% drop in farm incomes.

    Minister Creed was optimistic this week that European support is building to protect payments.

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