The Young Farmers Scheme operated from 2015 to 2022 and has been replaced with effect from 2023 by the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. As set down in the EU Regulations governing the operation of both schemes, the purpose of the schemes is to provide an income support to young farmers commencing their agricultural activities and after the initial setting-up. The support should only cover the initial period of life of the business and be granted for a maximum duration shortly after the initial setting up.
EU Regulation 1307/2013 governing the operation of the Young Farmers Scheme defined a young farmer to include those who are setting up a holding for the first time as head of the holding or who have already set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of an application for support.
For the new CAP from 2023 Member States were required to set down a definition of a young farmer in their CAP Strategic Plan to include an upper age limit of not more than 40, the conditions for being head of holding and the appropriate training or skills required. EU Regulation 2115/2021 provided Member States with the option to allow young farmers who had received support under the Young Farmers Scheme to rollover into the new Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers for the remainder of their 5-year term of eligibility under the scheme.
To maintain consistency in the definition of a young farmer for support under the CAP 2015-2022 and the new CAP from 2023, Ireland defined a young farmer as having a maximum age limit of 40, setting up a holding as head of the holding, solely or jointly, for the first time or have set up such a holding during the preceding five years and meeting a standard of a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at Level 6 or equivalent on the National Framework of Qualifications. This definition of a young farmer was approved as part of the overall approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan by the European Commission. To be considered as an eligible young farmer, the applicant must meet all of the requirements set out in the definition of a young farmer. There are no plans to amend the definition of a young farmer as set out in the CAP Strategic Plan.
