Young trained farmers will be able to draw down support payments rising to a maximum of €8,500 under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF). The payment rate is set approximately €170/ha to a maximum of 50ha.

This represents a sharp increase compared to the payment of €68 per activated entitlement value under the Young Farmers Scheme in place from 2015-2022. The higher payment is being funded by way of 3.5% of direct payments being ringfenced for CISYF, with the European Commission targeting an improved trend of generational renewal.

As is the case for eco schemes and the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), payments will be based on an eligible hectare rather than an activated entitlement as was the case in previous schemes. This removes the need for farmers to obtain entitlements to secure a level of direct payment support.

Current participants

The CISYF will operate for a five-year period, with farmers applying each year via their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (replaces the BPS) application.

Farmers who are currently participating in the Young Farmers Scheme and who will not have received five years of payment at the end of 2022 can roll over to the new scheme for the rest of their five years. For example, a farmer who received payment in 2022 and 2021 can receive three years of higher payment under the incoming scheme.

The Department outlined that there will be no guarantee on payments beyond 2027 for those participants who do not have five years completed by the end of 2027, but said it is likely that there will be a scheme present given the importance of supporting young farmers.

National reserve

There will also be a national reserve each year with about €4m in funding available annually. Eligible farmers will be allocated entitlements on naked land with a unit value similar to the national average (€164). Where entitlements are present and these are below the national average they will be topped up to the national average value via the national reserve.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria is expected to be similar to the current Young Farmers Scheme, with no significant changes envisaged. These eligibility criteria are summarised below:

  • She/he has submitted a valid 2023 Basic Payment Scheme application under a herd number on which the applicant is included.
  • She/he is no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which they first submit an application under the Basic Payment Scheme.
  • She/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent by 16 May 2023.
  • She/he is setting up as the head of an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.

    • Group participation

    The terms and conditions outline that for eligibility of young farmer(s) in a group – ie a young farmer undertakes the farming activity as part of a group (eg in a joint herd number, a registered farm partnership or a company) – the group will be considered eligible for the Young Farmers Scheme if the following conditions are met:

  • At least one person in the group must meet the definition of young farmer outlined above.
  • That young farmer must exercise effective and long-term control either solely or jointly within the group in terms of decisions related to the management, benefits and financial risks of the group. Such control is demonstrated as follows:

    • – The young farmer’s name is on the herd number.

    – The young farmer’s name is on the bank account used for the purposes of the receipt of payments under the Basic Payment Scheme and Young Farmers Scheme.

    – Companies only – the young farmer must be a director and minimum 20% shareholder in the company.

  • The secretary as listed in the B1 annual return for the application year may complete the National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme declaration form confirming that the young farmer has effective control, either solely or jointly with the other members of the group. Where the declaration form is not signed by the secretary, all of the directors must sign the declaration form.
  • All persons who participate in the group must complete a National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme declaration form confirming the young farmer has effective control, either solely or jointly with the other group members.
  • The Department stressed that in the case of a scheme inspection, farmers must be able to demonstrate that they are integrally involved in the farm and demonstrate knowledge for all relevant farming enterprises on the holding.