Young Farmers Scheme
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Young Farmers Scheme is a payment made to farmers under the age of 40 who are educated in agriculture to help them succeed in farming. It can be paid for up to 5 years.
To qualify for the Young Farmers Scheme, you must be:
• S/he has submitted a valid 2021 Basic Payment Scheme application under a herd number on which the applicant is included;
• S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;
• S/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent by the 17th May 2021 (See section 1.4);
• S/he is setting up as the head of an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application (see 1..8 of the Terms and Conditions);
• S/he must activate Basic Payment Scheme entitlements in respect of 2021;
• S/he applies for inclusion under the 2021 Young Farmers Scheme by
a) for new applicants submitting an application online via iNet;
b) for applicants who were successful under the 2020 Young Farmers Scheme and are eligible for continued participation in 2021 – by selecting the Young Farmers Scheme option on the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme Application. In the event the Young Farmers Scheme option is not available on the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme application for a continuing participant, the onus is on the applicant to submit a new application via iNet;
c) for applicants for whom there has been a change of registration to the herd number - submitting an application online via iNet.
If you are farming as part of a group, for example a partnership or a company, the group may be eligible for the scheme if you solely or jointly control decisions on the management, benefits and financial risks of the group. You must comply with the conditions of the scheme
The Young Farmers Scheme payment is calculated as 25% of the national average payment per hectare multiplied by your number of eligible hectares up to a maximum of 50.
Applications under the National Reserve scheme must be submitted on or before 17 May 2021 through www.agfood.ie .
If your login or password are expired and need to be renewed please contact the Department’s helpdesk at 076 1064424. Alternatively, you can authorise an agricultural consultant or Teagasc advisor to apply on your behalf.
2021 National Reserve and Young Farmer Scheme Terms and Conditions
Download2020 National Reserve (Young Farmer/New Entrant) and Young Farmers Scheme Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions for the National Reserve 2020
Download2021 National Reserve and Young Farmers FAQ
Download2021 National Reserve and Young Farmer Scheme Confirmation of Education Form
Download2021 National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme Declaration
DownloadAlternatively, you can authorise an agricultural consultant or Teagasc advisor to apply on your behalf.
New applicants, or previously successful applicants who have changed the registration details of their herd number, are required to complete a separate application on the site.
This is a prototype - your feedback will help us to improve it.