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The application process for both the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme in 2018 is open from today, Wednesday 7 February.
The 2018 National Reserve is expected to be worth €3.5m. Successful applicantswill 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. The Reserve will be targeted specifically at educated young farmers and new entrants to farming who fulfil specific criteria.
The Young Farmers Scheme provides an additional €24 million in funding available year from 2015 to 2019.
Criteria
Applicants will be required to have successfully completed a level six or equivalent agricultural education course by the 15 May 2018.
Successful candidates under the National Reserve will also be required to have an off-farm income of less than €40,000 in either of the 2016 or 2017 tax years. There is no off-farm income limit for the Young Farmers Scheme.
Announcing the scheme, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that since 2015 the two schemes have supported the regeneration of agriculture in Ireland.
“Over 7,000 young farmers and new entrants benefit from direct payment measures to help underpin the agriculture sector in Ireland in the coming years,” he said.
Applications for both schemes must be submitted using the online facility available at agfood.ie.
The full Terms and Conditions of both schemes is available on the Department’s website.
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