A Private Member’s Bill has been introduced to restore payments for Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) to upland farmers in Northern Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) omitted ANC support from its new Sustainable Agriculture Policy.

DAERA Census figures for 2025 record beef cattle numbers at the lowest level in 55 years, down 25 per cent over 20 years with a sharp drop since 2018/19. Nearly 100,000 of Northern Ireland’s 213,000 beef cattle are on Severely Disadvantaged Area land now classified as ANC. Almost 64,000 beef cattle are in Disadvantaged Areas (DA).

Three-quarters of breeding beef stock are located in Less Favoured Areas. Of 1.8 million sheep, over one million are in ANC areas and 400,000 in DA land. Beef numbers fell five per cent and sheep numbers seven per cent over the past year.

These upland herds supply breeding stock to lowland farmers. Output from ANC areas has declined over the past decade.

Farm business data for 2023/24 show average losses exceeding £10,000 on Less Favoured Area farms, rising to £17,000 without direct support. Only 10 cereal farmers operate in ANC areas across the six counties.

Proponents state that ANC payments sustain livelihoods, supply chains, and biodiversity while reducing risks from abandoned land.