Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum and maximum livestock unit values per hectare and the values per individual type of livestock for the organic farming scheme, areas of natural constraint scheme and the ACRES scheme in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47746/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (gov.ie/en/publication/76026-common-agricultural-policy-cap-post-2020/), farmers’ stocking rate in terms of livestock units will be used to determine eligibility for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, the Eco-scheme Agricultural Practice on Extensive Livestock Production and the Organic Farming Scheme. Farmers may also use their stocking rate to satisfy the ‘Active Farmer’ check.

It is proposed that the minimum stocking requirement check in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) will be largely based on the current ANC livestock requirements.

From 2023, the livestock unit coefficients to be used will be based on the Eurostat livestock coefficients. Based on these new Eurostat coefficients, the minimum stocking requirement will be set at 0.10 Livestock Units per hectare, reduced from the current minimum requirement of 0.15 livestock units per hectare. The minimum stocking rate is still equivalent to at least 1 ewe per hectare (see table for information on calculating the number of livestock units (LU) on the farm).

Stocking rate may influence the tierage that an ACRES applicant will be eligible for, but there is no minimum or maximum livestock-unit values per hectare requirement for entry to the scheme (see table). However some individual actions will have their own specific requirements. Further details are available in the ACRES Specification on the Department website.

Livestock Production Payments: Payment will be computed based on a minimum stocking level of 0.1 LU per hectare (6.5kg Organic Nitrate per ha/per annum) of the forage area declared on the associated BISS application. 1 LU = 65kg Organic Nitrogen = 1 suckler cow. Farmers not reaching this level will receive payment on a pro rata basis to their level of production.

Livestock Unit (LU) Equivalents & Computation: When calculating the number of livestock units (LU) on the farm, the following LU equivalents should be used: