ABP Food Group has this morning (Monday, October 5) announced the opening of its young farmer stock purchase support scheme for applications.

Entering its second year, the initiative is titled the 'ABP Advantage Young Farmer Academy' and will cover the purchase cost of calves for the eligible young farmers as well as provide an interim payment to the young farmer when the calves reach 12 months-of-age.

When the calves are reared and slaughtered as mature beef animals, the young farmer is paid for the beef cattle minus the calf purchase price and the interim payment.

Young farmers involved in the initiative will also be offered a guaranteed minimum base price as a means of market assurance when getting established.

Commenting on the rollout of the new industry-led young beef farmer initiative, ABP's farm liaison officer Sean Maher said: "ABP acknowledges and understands the issues around generational renewal that we see in this country and across Europe as well."

He said that young farmers trying to get established face many challenges including access to land and the price of buying-in livestock.

Maher also acknowledged that young farmers starting out have other cost and time commitments also including family and buying or building a home.

He said that these challenges are relatable to many young beef farmers.

He added: "Off the back of that, we launched the Young Farmer Academy after a very successful year as a pilot in 2025."

2026 was the first year for the initiative nationally.

The ABP Young Farmer Academy is now open for applications for spring 2027.

"When these animals reach a year-old, the young farmer will receive top-up payment, and then when the animal is brought to slaughter, both these payments will come off the [final slaughter] cheque.

"After a very successful year for the Young Farmer Academy, our young farmers have performed exceptionally well in quite a difficult year.

We're delighted with the farmers we have on it, and we're looking to expand in the spring of 2027," Maher said.

Who will the initiative be of interest to?

The ABP farm liaison officer said that the ABP Young Farmer Academy is of interest to any young farmer looking to establish or grow their enterprise, whether that be suckler or dairy-beef.

So the ABP Young Farmer Academy is open to anybody under the age of 35 with their own herd number or farming in partnership.

How to apply

Maher explained: "What usually happens is a young farmer will submit some form of interest, whether that be online or over the phone.

"We'll then conduct a couple of farm visits to see how suitable the candidate is and then if the applicant is successful, calves will arrive on the farm in spring 2027."

As well as the financial incentives, young farmers will also gain access to technical advice and support support from the Advantage Beef Programme's farm liaison team.

Maher explained that many of the eligible ABP Young Farmer Academy applicants will not have experience in fattening cattle for slaughter, but added that the farm liaison team will be on hand "to provide advice setting up these cattle for the finishing period".

Young farmers who are interested in joining the programme can check out the ABP website for more information.