ANC support critical to sustain upland farming across East Derry

Sinn Féin Councillor Kathleen McGurk has said reinstating payments for Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) is essential to sustain upland farming and rural communities across East Derry.

Cllr McGurk said: “Sinn Féin has listened closely to farmers, rural groups and industry stakeholders, and one message stands out above all others – reinstating payments for Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) is essential.

“That is precisely what the Bill brought forward by Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer seeks to do – restore ANC payments for our hard-pressed farmers. Given that the department has not included an ANC payment as part of the new Sustainable Agriculture Policy, the only option to secure the restoration of the ANC payment was through a Private Members Bill.

“The evidence is clear. Over the past decade, output from ANC areas has been in steady decline. If this trend continues unchecked, the consequences will stretch far beyond upland farms and will ultimately threaten the long-term sustainability of the red meat sector across the north.

“Figures from the 2025 DAERA Census paint a stark picture. The number of beef cattle has fallen by 25 per cent over the past 20 years, with a particularly sharp decline since 2018/19. The north now has the lowest beef cattle numbers in 55 years. During consultation on the ANC Bill, many stakeholders pointed to the ending of the ANC payment as a contributing factor to this worrying trend.

READ NEXT: Traffic disruption across Causeway Coast and Glens District on St Patrick’s Day warns PSNI

“The importance of ANC areas to the wider agricultural economy cannot be overstated. Of the north’s 213,000 beef cattle, almost 100,000 are located on Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) land, now classified as ANC land, while almost 64,000 are in Disadvantaged Areas (DA).

“In total, around three-quarters of the region’s essential breeding beef stock are in Less Favoured Areas. The same is true for sheep farming. Of the north’s 1.8 million sheep, over one million are in ANC areas, with a further 400,000 in DA land.

“In East Derry these issues are particularly significant. Around 50 per cent of the constituency’s farming land is designated as ANC, with over 1,000 farms operating in those designated areas across the Sperrins and Glenshane uplands. These farms form the backbone of the local rural economy and supply vital breeding stock to the wider livestock sector.

“These flocks and herds are critical breeding stock which provide a vital supply chain for lowland farmers who rely on upland producers to supply cattle and lambs for finishing.

“Recent livestock trends underline the scale of the challenge. Over the past year alone, the total number of beef cattle has decreased by five per cent and sheep numbers have fallen by seven per cent. At the same time, pigs have increased by eight per cent, poultry by nine per cent and dairy by two per cent. The sectors that dominate in marginal land – beef and sheep – are precisely those experiencing the greatest decline.

“There are also compelling environmental and ecological reasons to support farming in upland areas. Abandoned and overgrown land does not support biodiversity and increases the risk of wildfires during dry spells.

“Farmers have been telling us that switching to alternative enterprises simply isn’t realistic. The land, terrain and climate limit what can be produced. The DAERA census data highlights this starkly: across the entire six counties, there are only ten cereal farmers operating in ANC areas.

“Financial pressures compound these structural challenges. The 2023/24 farm business data illustrate that farms in Less Favoured Areas, which includes SDA and DA land, recorded an average loss of more than £10,000. Remove direct support payments and that loss deepens to around £17,000.

“Against this backdrop, reinstating ANC support is about maintaining the foundation of our livestock sector, encouraging biodiversity and sustaining rural communities.

“Without targeted support, the decline we are already witnessing will accelerate. Breeding herds and flocks will continue to shrink, supply chains will weaken and the wider red meat industry will feel the consequences.

“This legislation offers a practical solution. By restoring certainty and stability, it gives farm families the confidence to continue producing in some of the most challenging environments of the north.

“Ultimately, supporting ANC farmers is about more than agriculture. It is about safeguarding rural livelihoods, protecting the environment, protecting the supply chains that underpin our food system and ensuring that the next generation of farmers can continue the work that has sustained these landscapes for generations.”