Welcome for ‘new’ DAS by farmers

THE announcement of the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) – formerly known as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) and before that as Headage – has generally been welcomed by farm representatives in the West.

Under the terms of the scheme, farmers with mountain type land will receive a payment of €109.71c per hectare for the first 10ha, and €95.99cha for the next 14 hectares – this will allow for a maximum payment of €3,440.96c per farmer next September.

For more severely handicapped lowland farmers [most of the rest of Galway] the payment rate per hectare will be €95.99c, up to 30 hectares, giving a maximum individual payment of €2,879.70 in September. (Normally announced at The Ploughing).

The less severely handicapped lowland rate payment is €82.27c per hectare up to 30 hectares giving a maximum payment in this category of €2,483.10c per farmer.

In total, Minister Simon Coveney confirmed that a total of €195 million will be paid out under the scheme this year – he said that the money would provide crucial aid to those farming in areas of natural constraint.

Farmers should note that to qualify for the scheme they need to simply tick the relevant box on their Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) form and have their applications submitted by May 29.

The minimum stocking rate density remains at 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months.

Applicants must also maintain an ‘annual average’ of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year.

However the 2011 minimum stocking density requirement of 0.3 livestock units per hectare no longer exists.

Brendan Joyce said that while he welcomed the announcement of the scheme, he said that a higher rate of payment should have been made to farmers in the poorer mountain type land category.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.