A surge in applications for the National Reserve is being seen ahead of next Tuesday’s deadline (31 March).

The Department of Agriculture has seen the numbers of farmers starting an online application for new entrants and young farmers jump to over 3,000 this week, although only 1,500 have fully completed the process.

Paper applications have also been made available where farmers have applied for a herd number or change to herd number but the application has not been processed. Applications will be accepted after the deadline but a penalty of 4% per working day is imposed. The “old young farmer” category – where farmers currently still not older than 40 started farming from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009 – will be open for applications under the National Reserve in early April.