The full terms and conditions of the Young Farmers Scheme (YFS) and National Reserve have been published on the Department’s website. Both schemes are designed to support new entrants to become established in farming.

The YFS payment is 25% of the national average payment per hectare multiplied by the number of entitlements activated by the applicant, subject to a maximum of 50.

A successful applicant who commenced farming from 2014 onwards and who submits his/her first YFS application within five years of commencement of farming may receive payment for five years under the YFS. Top-ups generally amount to approximately €50/entitlement.

To be considered eligible under the YFS, an applicant must have successfully completed an agricultural qualification at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent by 15 May 2019 and must submit a copy of such qualification/Teagasc letter of equivalence in support of their application.

Applicants will have to be able to prove that they are involved in the running of the farm.

They must be aged no more than 40 years at any time during the calendar year in which they first submit an application under the Basic Payment Scheme.

2019 National Reserve

In January, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said the funding in place for the 2019 National Reserve will be in the region of €3m (€3.5m was designated to the scheme in 2018 and €5m in 2017).

Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive an allocation of entitlements at the national average value (in 2018 this amounted to €262/entitlement including greening) or a top-up to the national average value on entitlements that are below the national average currently.

A gross off-farm income limit of €40,000 will apply to applicants to the National Reserve.

Applicants may choose to use either the full 2017 or 2018 tax year, whichever is more advantageous to the applicant.

There are two categories of farmers who may be eligible to apply to the National Reserve: the young farmer category and the new entrant category.

Further details of eligibility are available online on the Department’s website.

Straw prices varied

Reports are varied on the price of straw across the country. One producer in the east of the country said he has received very few enquiries for straw recently despite the change in the weather. However, he did point out that if the wet period continued this could change quickly.

Some farmers in the east that were holding out for €30/bale (4x4 round) in the shed have been unsuccessful so far in finding customers at that price point.

However, in the west, small numbers of round bales are making as high as €36/bale delivered, but there may be better value where larger quantities are purchased.

There are also some reports of forward purchase, or deals negotiated, for straw for the 2019 harvest at €20/bale baled in the field. Large 8x4x4 square bales are making €65 to €70/bale excluding delivery.