National Reserve entitlements opening for 6,417

Landowners forced to transfer single payment entitlements permanently this year can apply in 2015 for National Reserve entitlements.

An estimated 6,417, who had leased out payment entitlements, faced losing them , unless they were transferred permanently by sale or gift before May 15, 2014.

This was due to many 100% lessor landowners not having an automatic ‘allocation right’ to the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. Most of them were no longer active farmers, including Early Retirement Scheme members who ceased farming.