Initially the Department of Agriculture stated that those who wished to enter the schemes had either to have completed or be participating in a recognised FETAC level 6 or equivalent course of education in agriculture, otherwise known as the Green Cert. Alternatively the hopeful entrant had to commit to commencing such a course by 30 September 2016.

It has now emerged that the EU Commission has recently advised that applicants must have begun their agricultural education in 2015 to comply with the requirements of the National Reserve and Young Farmer schemes. Therefore students are now required to have started their training by 31 December 2015 to qualify for payment - a full nine months earlier than the inital stated deadline.

This shift has caused massive confusion and concern for agricultural colleges around the country. Teagasc is currently awaiting clarification from the Department as to how it can be expected to handle the sudden change in the deadline date. Earlier this year, we reported that almost 4,000 people registered their interest for a Green Cert course with Teagasc this year. In a normal year, Teagasc deals with 500 students looking to do the course.

Talks under way

To cope with the increased demand, it was understood that Teagasc was looking to split the demand between 2015 and 2016. Now that possibility has been punctured.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that talks have commenced in recent days between Teagasc's local offices and the Department of Agriculture on the best strategy for dealing with this sudden emergence.

In a statement, the Department told us that "arrangements are being put in place with the agricultural colleges and each applicant concerned will be given an opportunity to initiate their training in 2015 in order to qualify for payment under the National Reserve and Young Farmer schemes." According to the statement, these farmers will be notified of the change this week.

There were 7,000 applicants to the National Reserve and 8,700 to the Young Farmer Scheme in 2015. Of the almost 4,000 who applied to take the Green Cert this year, 2,000 were hopeful entrants to the National Reserve and Young Farmer Scheme.

Exclusive: confusion reigns over Green Cert strategy

The educational requirements for entry to the Young Farmer and National Reserve schemes have been changed, leading to confusion for ag colleges and worries for students, we can exclusively reveal.