I started farming in 2003, the last reference year, and ended up with a Single Farm Payment of just €900. I lease 32 hectares, don’t own any land, and am struggling to build up stock numbers in sucklers, sheep and livestock.

I am fully committed to farming and all along I was told by the farm organisations that I would be looked after this time round. Now I find out that I am ineligible for both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers top-up.

I am just 33 and got a green cert when I started farming at 20. I am frustrated in that I have contacted TDs, the Department and the farm organisations and have not got much reaction. Macra were supportive, but said that there were just not enough young farmers in the same situation to make a case. I think there are.

I want young farmers who are in the same situation to contact me so we can come together and push our situation. Contact: Kenneth O’Brien, Glenamaddy, Co Galway, 086 0740024.

Kenneth is right in that there are definitely more farmers who are caught in the same situation. I have got a number of queries along the same lines.

While a case is being made by the Department for “old young” farmers who started since 2008, Kenneth is in a group of “older young” farmers who started farming before 2008.

Macra is right in that there needs to be group of farmers in the same situation to make a case under the National Reserve.

The Department is open to reviewing groups of individuals to identify if the EU Commission would agree. However, the final decision will be by the EU.

There is a window for farmers in the same situation. Kenneth is hoping that they will contact him. Just to note that as it stands, Kenneth would gain.

Farming 32 hectares, his €900 SFP increases to €1,600 in 2015 and will rise to €4,800 in 2019 as his payment goes to €150/ha.

While he would not qualify for the young farmers top-up, his hope would be to get a top-up on his entitlement to the national average from the National Reserve.