Macra urges emphasis on rural collaboration
The scheme encourages farmers to consider collaborative farming arrangements as it helps to offset the initial costs of establishing these arrangements.
Macra president Seán Finan said the scheme is expected to provide a 50% grant, up to a maximum of €2,500 to offset the costs incurred. He said collaborative arrangements are a way of encouraging more entrants into the industry.
“We need to support and encourage more farmers to get involved in these arrangements,” he said.
Mr Finan said the Department of Agriculture has clarified that young farmers in a joint herd number arrangement are not eligible to qualify for the 60% Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II.
“This will mean that these young farmers will have to enter a collaborative partnership agreement if they want to avail of this scheme,” he said.
Macra’s Land Mobility Service has 300 clients and more than 100 arrangements in place, including partnerships, share milking agreements, and long-term leases.
