Young Farmers Scheme

The Young Farmers Scheme provides a 25% top-up on the average Basic Payment for a young farmer to support them in their first five years of farming.

Key points:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • 25% top-up of approximately €64 per entitlement per year, regardless of the value of entitlements held.
  • Scheme available for the first five years of set-up.
  • Maximum payment on each entitlement up to 50ha and five-year duration.
  • Herd number allocation is the date deemed to have commenced farming.

    • Criteria for young farmers:

  • No more than 40 years of age during the calendar year of entry to the scheme.
  • Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if allocated a herd number in early 2010).
  • Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.
  • Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).

    • Applications opened online on 5 January and closing date is 15 May 2015. Register with www.agfood.ie or submit through an agent.

    Full terms and conditions are available on www.agriculture.gov.ie/national reserveandyfs, the Department’s National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme section on 0761-064446 or by email at NationalReserve YFS@agriculture.gov.ie

    National Reserve

    The National Reserve is very important for both young farmers who have commenced farming since early 2010 and new entrants to farming who have low or no entitlements. The following are some of the key criteria:

    Criteria for young farmer category:

  • No more than 40 years of age during the calendar year of entry to scheme.
  • Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if granted herd number in early 2010).
  • Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.
  • Off-farm income limit of €40,000.
  • Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).

    • Criteria for new entrant category:

  • Same criteria as young farmers without the age restriction and must have commenced in 2013 or later.

    • Key points:

  • Eligible to apply on hectares farmed in 2015 with or without entitlements below the national average. Basic payment of €170 (€254 including greening).
  • Maximum area to apply for entitlements is 90ha.
  • Entitlement per hectare from National Reserve is €170 (plus greening equals €254).
  • National Reserve covers the time frame 2015 to 2019.
  • Young farmers who applied to the previous national reserve and who meet the criteria for the 2015 national reserve are eligible to apply.
  • Other categories may be included in the National Reserve for 2015 in April.

    • Next step – application

    Applications opened on 5 January and closing date is 31 March 2015. Register with www.agfood.ie or submit through an agent.

    Full terms and conditions are available on www.agriculture.gov.ie/nationalreserveandyfs, the Department’s National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme section on 0761-064446 or by email at NationalReserve YFS@agriculture.gov.ie