The number of registered farm partnerships (RFPs) recorded with the Department of Agriculture and Food has now reached 3,000. In confirming the news on Wednesday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said there were a further 343 new partnerships recorded in advance of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Deadline of 15 May.

The Minister said “I am pleased that interest in the farm partnership model has continued to grow.

“Apart from the obvious social benefits of forming a farm partnership e.g. better work/life balance, smoother intergenerational transfer and more efficient use of land, particularly around the milking platform, the State provides incentives to encourage the creation and maintenance of farm partnerships.

Incentives

“These incentives include the granting of enhanced 50% stock relief to members of registered farm partnerships and allowing increased thresholds under some of the CAP Pillar I and Pillar II Schemes such as BPS and TAMS”.

Applications for Registered Farm Partnerships can be made all year round and further information is available on www.agriculture.gov.ie.