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In a change to the Young Farmer Scheme (YFS), a successful applicant who commenced farming from 2014 onwards and who submits his/her first YFS application within five years of commencement of farming can now receive payment under the scheme for five years.
Previously, a young farmer who commenced farming in 2015 but who did not gain their educational requirements until 2017, for example, would miss out on two years of YFS payments and would only be eligible for three years of payments.
The changes have come into effect as a result of changes to EU regulations and also are in effect for young farmers in Northern Ireland.
It is believed that the new arrangements cannot be used to make retrospective payments.
The YFS will be calculated as a 25% top-up of the national average payment per hectare, multiplied by the number of entitlements activated by the successful applicant.
Top-ups generally amount to €50/ha to €60/ha.
To be eligible under the YFS, an applicant must have successfully completed an agricultural qualification at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent by 15 May 2018.
2018 National Reserve
On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that there will be a National Reserve for 2018.
The fund will see a decrease on the €5m offered last year, with €3.5m designated to the scheme for 2018.
The announcement coincides with the opening of the online system for submission of applications to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme (YFS) in 2018.
Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive an allocation of entitlements at the national average value or a top-up to the national average value on entitlements that are below the national average currently.
The National Reserve in 2018 will be targeted specifically at educated young farmers and new entrants to farming who fulfil specific objective criteria.
To be eligible for the scheme, applicants will be required to have successfully completed a recognised agricultural education course giving rise to an award at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent by 15 May 2018.
They will also be required to have an off-farm income of less than €40,000 in either of the 2016 or 2017 tax years.
Applicants can choose to use either tax year, whichever is more advantageous to the applicant.
2017 National Reserve
In 2017, €5m was allocated to the National Reserve. Of the 970 applications who were deemed eligible for the scheme, 870 have received payment so far, with €3.27m having issued to date. Based on approvals and payments thus far, the average payment under the National Reserve is €3,800.
The 100 farmers who have yet to receive payment are being engaged with by the Department to determine their eligibility. For some applicants, further information is being sought by the Department to finally process the application.
Based on the current figures, when all applicants are paid, the total paid out should be approximately €3.65m.
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