Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
755. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the stocking rates that one needs to qualify for the single farm payment 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24107/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), from 2023 it is proposed to use a minimum stocking requirement as an eligibility requirement for the ANC scheme, as part of the active farmer check, in one of the agricultural practices in the eco-scheme and in the new Organic Farming Scheme.
It is proposed in Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan that the minimum stocking requirement check in the CSP will be largely based on the current ANC check and most farmers farmers are familiar with this. In the ANC scheme, participants are currently required to maintain an annual average minimum stocking density per forage hectare calculated over the 12 months of the calendar year. They must also meet a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months.
From 2023, it is proposed that the livestock unit coefficients to be used for the minimum stocking requirements will be amended to match the current Eurostat livestock coefficients. Based on these new Eurostat coefficients, it is proposed the minimum stocking requirement would be set at 0.10 Livestock Units per hectare, reduced from the current minimum requirement of 0.15 livestock units per hectare.
This will maintain the link with the one ewe equivalent per hectare (1 Ewe = 0.10 LU) as it is in the current CAP. It should also be noted that a reduced stocking rate may apply where it is justified on environmental grounds.
This proposed change along with all the other elements of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan is subject to approval by the EU Commission. The negotiations between the Department and the Commission are ongoing.
