Young Farmer Scheme

• be participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which you submit an application;
• be aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which you first submit an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;
• have successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent, or commit to commencing such a course by 30th September 2016;
• be setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or have set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.

Where a ‘Young Farmer’ undertakes the farming activity as part of a group, e.g. under a joint herd number, a partnership or company, the group will be considered eligible so long as one person in the group meets the criteria of a young farmer and the young farmer exercises effective and long-term control within the group of decisions related to management, benefits, financial risks etc.

A successful applicant will receive payment for a maximum of five years.

Note: Separate to the Young Farmer Scheme, The National Reserve may provide a ‘top-up’ to ‘Young Farmers’ (and ‘New Entrants’). In order to qualify for a National Reserve, you must have a gross income of less than €40,000 in either the tax years 2013 or 2014 but this is not necessary to qualify for the Young Farmer Scheme.

The Young Farmers Scheme Payment will be calculated as 25% of the national average payment per hectare (based on the national ceiling) multiplied by the number of entitlements activated by the successful applicant, subject to a maximum of 50.

A successful applicant will receive payment for a maximum of 5 years. This is dated from the year of setting up the holding.

Under the Charter of Farmers Rights, the target payment date for the Young Farmer Scheme is December 1st each year for all applications – the Young Farmer Scheme payment will be paid as a complete payment.

5% of applicants under the Young Farmer Scheme will be selected for inspection to ensure compliance with the rules of the scheme. Up to 14 days notice will apply.