Farmers could find themselves able to avail of farm relief services free of charge when unable to perform farming duties for reasons varying from sickness, to holidays, under the next CAP.

That’s if the European Commission’s proposals for the CAP to provide funding covering “the establishment of these services as well as wages for temporary workers replacing the farmer” come to pass.

The next CAP will run from 2028 to 2034, with the Commission planning on putting supports in place for farmers taking leave from their duties for the reasons of “sickness, childbearing, holidays or in the case of training participation”.

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The draft Commission documents suggest that, as planned, the support must form part of each member state’s ‘young farmer starter pack’ aimed at improving the long-term attractiveness of the sector, but would remain open for all farmers to avail of.