The online system for submission of applications to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme in 2018 has opened.
National Reserve
The National Reserve is targeted at educated young farmers and new entrants to farming who fulfil certain criteria.
In the region of €3.5 million will be provided in funding for the National Reserve in 2018.
Successful applicants to the National Reserve receive an allocation of entitlements at the National Reserve National Average value or a top-up to the national average value on entitlements that are below the national average.
Young Farmers Scheme
The Young Farmers Scheme is a separate scheme with just over €24 million in funding each year. The scheme provides an additional payment to successful applicants per activated entitlement.
In a change to the scheme for 2018, successful applicants who commenced farming from 2014 onwards, and who submits his/her first Young Farmers Scheme application within five years of commencement of farming, may receive payment under the Scheme for five years. Previously, the ‘five years’ of eligibility for payment was dated from the year of setting up of the holding.
Applications under the 2017 National Reserve and Young Farmers scheme must be submitted using the online facility available at www.agfood.ie.
