Over €19.9m in ANC payments for Mayo farmers

More than 9,000 farmers across Mayo are set to receive almost €20 million in support payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme.

A total of 9,089 Mayo farmers will share €19,941,932, representing the 85% advance payment under the scheme.

Mayo TD Keira Keogh welcomed the announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, describing the payments as important support for farming families facing challenging conditions.

“The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme, or ANC as it’s known, is a support programme that provides financial payments to farmers farming in geographically difficult or marginal areas,” Deputy Keogh said.

“I am delighted to see the 85% advancement of these payments to farmers issued by the Minister today and that 9,089 farmers in County Mayo will share a total of €19,941,932.”

Deputy Keogh said Mayo farmers face particular challenges due to the county’s landscape and weather conditions.

“In Mayo we know that farmers already find it difficult with the challenges posed by the landscape, whether it is the mountain terrain or the boggy ground, adding in the harsher weather coming in from the Atlantic,” she said.

The Fine Gael TD added that farmers had “adapted and persevered” and said the payments would help support farming in areas where natural conditions make agricultural production more difficult and less profitable.

“This payment will go towards easing some of the financial challenges faced by the farming families,” she said.

Nationally, Minister Heydon confirmed that advance ANC payments totalling €179 million have issued to more than 85,000 farmers.

The payments represent an 85% advance, with the remaining 15% balance due to commence in early December.

The Minister also confirmed that the Department is on track to facilitate the 75% advance payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), Complementary Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) and Eco-scheme from October 16.