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Young Farmers in Ireland: Who are you and what are you entitled to?

Writer's picture: Alicia  Temple Alicia Temple

Characteristics of a Young Farmer in Ireland include: being no more than 40 years of age, having attained an agricultural qualification (i.e. Green Cert of equivalent) and being in financial and managerial control of the farm.

The points below may be of interest to you if you are a Young Farmer farming independently, or considering taking over the family farm.

The first payment that a young farmer is entitled to is 1) the 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 (𝐘𝐅𝐒).

Conditions for payment:

· Submit a valid BPS application on a herd number in which your name is included.

· Aged no more than 40.

· Completed a recognised course of education in agriculture (for example, Teagasc Level 6).

· Setting up as head of an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up within the last 5 years. Once you obtain your herd/flock number – you have five years to gain entry to this scheme.

· Must activate entitlements as part of BPS for the year in which you are submitting your application.

What payment is available?

Payment is calculated as 25% of the national average payment per hectare X the number of eligible hectares you have. Up to a maximum of 50.

For example, let’s say the national average per hectare is €266 (inc. greening).

€266 x 25% = €66.50. Say you have 20 ha to claim - €66.50 x 20ha = €1,330 is your payment (These are just figures used for the purpose of explaining the payment procedure, national average value fluctuate year-on-year). This payment is paid for a maximum of 5 years.

The second payment that a Young Farmer is entitled to is 2) 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 (𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲).

Conditions for payment:

The conditions to obtain the payment for National Reserve are similar to the YFS, but you must also have a gross off-farm income that doesn’t exceed €40,000.

What payment is available?

Applicants to the national reserve obtain entitlements valued at the national average. The national reserve can be applied to with naked land, i.e. land with no entitlements, such as hill.

Alternatively, if you are applying to the National Reserve with lower value entitlements, you will receive a top-up to the national average on entitlements which are below this level.

The third scheme available to Young Farmer applicants is 3) 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞.

The aim of this scheme is to provide financial help to young farmers to upgrade agricultural buildings and equipment.

Conditions for payment:

· Aged between 18-41

· Have been farming (with an active herd number) within 5 years of the application submission

· Own or have a lease to the site where the development is proposed

· Have a minimum of 5ha of land in the year of application

An example of works eligible in this scheme include: animal housing, slurry scrapers, pens, fencing, enclosures, dairy buildings/equipment, energy efficiency measures, etc.

What payment is available?

Grant aid is available at a rate of 60% up to a maximum of €80,000.

 

If you’re classified as a Young Farmer, or you’re interested in obtaining the requirements to become one – contact me today to find out more!

Phone: 085 839 1019



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00353 (0) 85 8391019

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