Definition of young ‘too narrow’

THE new on-farm investment scheme for young farmers has been broadly welcomed but at least one organisation says it is excluding too many farmers by the way it defines youth.

Commenting on the launch of the new on-farm investment scheme for young farmers, the ICSA’s Kevin Galvin welcomed the scheme, saying it was necessary to allow young farmers develop their business for the future

But he pointed to some “glaring anomalies” in the scheme that need to be addressed - particularly in relation to the scheme’s definition of a ‘Young Farmer’.

As an example, he said it was unacceptable that a farmer who was 40 years of age on 1 May 2015 will not qualify as a ‘young farmer’ for this scheme while he/she would qualify under the Basic Payment-related schemes.

It is also unfair that such farmers may be excluded on age limits because of a delay in launching this scheme.

“In relation to the Five Year Rule, a significant number of young farmers who are undoubtedly committed to farming have been excluded from this scheme on this criteria and again this needs to be addressed,” Mr Galvin said.

He also noted that there are negotiations ongoing at EU level around the issue of simplification. “If they are to mean anything, the kind of anomaly that has two simultaneous definitions of a Young Farmer being recognised and operated needs to be addressed.”