Eligible young farmers have been given another week to apply for the first tranche of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

The scheme which has been highly anticipated by young farmers with grant aid of 60% available for eligible investments had been due to close to applications for its first tranche tonight (September 18).

However, due to internal Department of Agriculture IT difficulties the deadline it has pushed back the deadline by one week to September 25.

The online system for preparing applications for the €120m Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme went live in mid-June.

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has stressed that this is just the first tranche of applications under TAMS.

He said these tranches will be organised regularly. “It is important for farmers to remember that, particularly when they need time to organise planning-permission for any new construction,” he said.

Planning is one of the key areas which will hold up applications for the Young Farmer Capital Investment scheme as the Department of Agriculture is looking for full planning permission, or a letter of exemption for all fixed structures, at time of application to the new TAMS II schemes.

Read also: All you need to know about applying for young farmer grants#

Areas covered

The specific areas of investment will include:

  • Animal housing
  • Slurry storage
  • Dairy equipment
  • Specialised slurry spreading equipment,
  • Animal welfare and farm safety,
  • Specialised pig & poultry investments.
See also: A full list of everything eligible for new young farmer grants