Minister Coveney has announced the opening of the 2015 National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme
Minister Simon Coveney announced the opening of the online system for the submission of applications to both the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme in 2015 on Tuesday 06/01/2015. The announcement made by the minister today means anyone who meet the definition of a ‘young farmer’ can apply to both the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme.
National Reserve
The National Reserve will be established using 3% of the ceiling allocated to the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, which will create a fund of close to €25 million. Successful applicants will receive an allocation of entitlements based on the eligible land declared on their 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. This will be at a value equal to the national average value of entitlements in the year of application. Successful applicants who already hold entitlements which are below the national average value will receive a top-up whereby the value of those entitlements will be increased to the national average value. Under EU Regulation the two categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant to farming receive priority access to the National Reserve but other categories may follow depending on available resources. The closing date for receipt of applications for the two priority categories under the National Reserve is 31 March 2015.
Young Farmers Scheme
A fund of over €24 million will be available to the Young Farmers Scheme for each of the years 2015 to 2019. The Scheme will be used to provide an additional payment to any person who qualifies as a ‘young farmer’. It is available to successful applicants for a maximum period of five years. The aim of the scheme is to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise in their own name. The closing date for receipt of applications under the Young Farmer scheme is 15 May 2015.
Definition of young farmer
To qualify as a young farmer an applicant must be participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which the application is made. The applicant must also be no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which an application is first submitted under this same scheme.
Application process
Applications to both the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme should be submitted using the online facility made available at www.agfood.ie
Queries should be directed to the Department of Agriculture on 0761 064 446 or via email at NationalReserveYFS@agriculture.gov.ie
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 06/01/2015)
Key points of the National Reserve and Young Farmer schemes
The online application for the Basic Payment National Reserve and Young Farmer schemes opened on Tuesday 06/01/2015. Macra na Feirme has provided us with a breakdown of both.
Young Farmer Scheme
The young farmer scheme provides a 25% top up on the average Basic Payment for a young farmer to support them in their first five years of farming.
Key points:
- 25% top up of approx €64 per entitlement per year regardless of the value of entitlements held.
- Scheme available for the first five years of set up.
- Maximum payment on each entitlement up to 50 hectares and 5 year duration.
- Herd number allocation is the date deemed to have commenced farming.
Criteria for young farmers
- No more than 40 years during the calendar year of entry to the scheme.
- Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if allocated a herd number in early 2010).
- Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.
- Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).
- Applications close on the 15 May 2015. Register with www.agfood.ie or submit through an agent.
- The Department’s National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme section 0761 064 446.
National Reserve
The Basic Payment National Reserve is for both young farmers who have commenced farming since early 2010 and new entrants to farming who have low or no entitlements. The following is some of the key criteria:
Criteria for young farmer category
- No more than 40 years during the calendar year of entry to scheme.
- Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if granted herd number in early 2010).
- Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.
- Off farm income limit of €40,000.
- Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).
Criteria for new entrant category
- Same criteria as young farmers without the age restriction and must have commenced in 2013 or later.
Key points
- Eligible to apply on hectares farmed in 2015 with or without entitlements below the national average Basic payment of €170 (€254 incl. Greening).
- Maximum area to apply for entitlements is 90 hectares.
- Entitlement per hectare from National Reserve is €170 (plus greening equals €254).
- National Reserve covers the timeframe 2015-2019.
- Young Farmers who applied to the previous national reserve and who meet the criteria for the 2015 national reserve are eligible to apply.
- Other categories may be included in the Basic Payment National Reserve for 2015 in April.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Aisling Hussey – 07/01/2015)