McIlveen announces 2017 ANC payment rates

Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen today announced the payment rates for the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme. The ANC Scheme is a measure in the Department’s 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme.

Payment rates will be £56.47 per hectare for the first 200 hectares, and £42.35 per hectare above 200 hectares. The split rates are a requirement of the EU Regulation which states that payments must be degressive above a threshold level of claimed area per holding.

Announcing the rates of payment Miss McIlveen said: “This is the second year of the Pillar II Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme and farmers claimed for ANC payments as part of their Single Application in May 2016. 

“The payment rate for the first 200 hectares of eligible forage land claimed in the Severely Disadvantaged Area will be £56.47 per hectare, and the payment rate for eligible forage land claimed above 200 hectares will be £42.35 per hectare.”

The Minister concluded: “ANC payments will begin to issue in early March 2017 and most payments should be processed before the end of that month.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The ANC scheme is part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The ANC Scheme provides for a payment on eligible hectares of forage land in the Severely Disadvantaged Area to compensate for all or part of the additional costs and income forgone related purely to the constraints for agricultural production in the area.
2. Under the terms of Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013, ANC payments under the Scheme must be degressive above a threshold level of area per holding. 
3. The Department has received some 10,000 applications for the 2017 Scheme. Payments on eligible claims will commence in March 2017. The target is for 95% of payments to be made by 31 March 2017.
4. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned.

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