What is it?

The Young Farmer Scheme (YFS) provides a 25% top-up on the average Basic Payment for a young farmer for his/her first five years of farming. A fund of over €24m will be available to the YFS for each of the years 2015 to 2019.

Definition of a “Young Farmer”:

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  • A participant in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application.
  • Aged no more than 40 at any time during the calendar year in which she/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme.
  • Setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding in the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.
  • Successfully completed or is participating in a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent. Alternatively the young farmer must commit to commencing such a course by 30 September 2016 (the deadline for commencing this education was brought forward by the European Commission in November to 31 December 2015).

    • When did the scheme open and close for applications?

    The scheme opened for applications on 5 January 2015 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 29 May 2015.

    What scheme did it replace?

    The Young Farmer Scheme is a new scheme introduced by EU as part of the 2014-2020 CAP reform.

    When will farmers know if they have been accepted into the scheme and how much payment can successful applicants expect?

    The Department anticipates that notification of acceptance letters will be sent out to applicants to the Young Farmer Scheme from early November. Payments are due to start after 1 December.

    Successful applicants can expect a 25% top-up of approximately €64 per entitlement per year regardless of the value of entitlements held. The maximum payment on each entitlement is up to 50ha and a five-year duration.

    Will there be another chance to apply for the scheme?

    Yes. Qualifying young farmers may join the scheme in 2015 or in any subsequent year during the lifetime of the current CAP (2015- 2019). The maximum number of years that a young farmer may receive YFS payment is five. Therefore, to gain maximum benefit from the scheme, the farmer should apply in 2015. However, EU funding will be allocated annually for the scheme up to 2019.

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    Confused about the new CAP schemes? Check out our payments glossary