Young farmers look to be the group of farmers in line for the most favourable offering of schemes in the next CAP, if indications from the European Commission, Government and MEPs are to be heeded.
The Commission’s proposals for the next CAP look to introduce a new “starter pack for young farmers” in member states that would include a range of measures intended on addressing issues each country had identified were keeping young farmers from taking on farms.
The proposals state that this starter pack “shall include” a set of measures that includes support for young farmers setting up, a top up on the scheme that is to replace Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and “co-operation intervention” that addresses farm succession.
The possibility of a farm succession scheme in the next CAP has been flagged by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and the Commission’s proposals indicate that such a scheme would be permitted in the 2028-2034 CAP.
Additional funds
The proposals further state that higher rates of grant aid for farm investments can be funded in the next CAP, as well as a new idea of the CAP funding farm relief services that would cover at least some of the costs associated with farmers taking holidays.
The Commission had recommended that member states aim for a 6% CAP spending target on young farmers from 2028 onwards, but the European Parliament is pushing for a mandatory spending requirement to be imposed on each country – with some looking for this target to be as high as 10% of the CAP spend.
SHARING OPTIONS