Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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893. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that livestock units which were matriculated regarding the basic income support for sustainability scheme differ from the current areas of natural constraints scheme requirements; his views on whether this will encourage increased stocking rates on areas of natural constraints; his further views on whether the reduced weighting particularly regarding sheep will negate any potential benefit from the reduction in stocking rate requirement in the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16594/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), from 2023 it is proposed to implement a minimum stocking requirement as an eligibility requirement for the Areas facing Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, as part of the active farmer check, in one of the agricultural practises in the eco-scheme and in the new Organic Farming Scheme.

It is proposed that the minimum stocking requirement check in the CSP will be largely based on the current ANC check, which many farmers are familiar with.

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. Participants must also meet a minimum retention period of 7 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 (LU/HA), reduced from the current minimum requirement of 0.15 LU/HA.

This will maintain the link with one Ewe equivalent per hectare (1 Ewe = 0.10 LU) as it is in the current CAP. As a result, there will no change to the stocking rates required to meet the minimum stocking requirement on sheep farms. A reduced stocking level may apply where it is justified on environmental grounds.

In relation to the new Organic Farming Scheme from 2023, the new coefficients and the minimum stocking requirement of 0.10 livestock units per hectare will also apply. The lower minimum stocking rate requirement will allow many of the current participants receive a full organic scheme payment and will also encourage farmers on marginal land to consider converting to organic farming.