Macra are pushing for recognition for a relatively small group of young farmers they believe are being disadvantadged by the new CAP rules.

About 250 young farmers entered family dairy partnerships between 2008 and 2010. These farmers are deemed to have been active since entering the partnership and are not now eligible for new-entrant status. This excludes them from the 25% basic payment top-up and from the TAMS 60% grant schemes for young farmers.

“These young farmers missed out on Installation Aid following its closure, but still committed to farming through a family dairy partnership,” said Macra president Sean Finan.

“Excluding these farmers from the new schemes, which are so welcome for young farmers, seems wrong,” he added.

Macra met with the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday to discuss the plight of these farmers.

“There currently are 249 farmers who are seriously disillusioned with collaborative farming, as it looks like it will cost them their access to young farmer and new entrant incentives,” said Finan.