Surprisingly high application rate by new entrants

DECOUPLING has brought new entrants to farming out of the woodwork.

With an estimated two or three per cent of farmers disappearing per year, on average, it has come as a major surprise that about 7,000 farmers have already applied to a scheme for those who entered farming during 2000, 2001 and 2002.

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the number may be artificially high because applications were invited from new entrants under a number of headings.