Included in a suite of measures under the new CAP reform which comes into force this year Ireland is the Young Farmers Scheme the purpose of which is to encourage the participation of young farmers in agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture has said that over 6,000 farmers applied to the scheme last spring.

Under the agreed terms of the new Farmers Charter target payment date of December 1 has been set for all applications to the scheme. It also sets out that successful applicants to the scheme will be paid as one complete payment.

This differs from payments to other farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme which this year will see a 70% advance payment of their Basic Payment Scheme with effect from October 16 with balancing payments issuing from December 1.

The Young Farmers Scheme will include a mandatory top-up on direct payments in the first years of farming. In the CAP agreement in June 2013 a provision for up to 2% of funds in pillar 1 for provided for a mandatory 25% top up on Single Farm Payment for new entrant young farmers under 40 years for their first five years of installation.

The Department says the measure is designed for young farmers to assist them in establishing their farm business and to address the age profile in the sector.

National Reserve

The new Farmers Charter also sets out the payments to farmers under the National Reserve will issue from December 1. Successful applicants under this scheme will also be paid in one payment.

Also in 2015 successful applicants under the National Reserve will be eligible for an allocation of entitlements on land for which they hold no entitlements and/or a top up to the value of existing entitlements held by them, where such entitlements have a value below the National Average.

As many as 6,000 applications have been made to the National Reserve, according to the Department of Agriculture.