Reserve to entice new entrants into farming

Macra na Feirme has urged new entrant young farmers to plan carefully for the Single Farm Payment National Reserve, which is focused on those intending to start a career in farming or who have recently set up in farming.

Macra has described the reserve as a great opportunity for young farmers to apply on land without entitlements or entitlements below the national average of €170 per hectare or €254 including greening.

“Young farmers will be entitled to apply once off to the reserve on a maximum of 90 hectares and the scheme will be open to applications up to 2019 subject to availability of funds,” notes Macra president Kieran O’Dowd. “Similar criteria will apply to the new entrants category except for the age restriction.”