Young farmers’ payments details

Up to three per cent of the total Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) budget - part of England’s budget under the Common Agricultural Policy - has been earmarked to create entitlements for new farmers and young farmers, if they currently have more land than entitlements.

Entitlements to payments relate to three regions of land - severely disadvantaged areas, non-severely disadvantaged areas and moorland.

The new entitlements for young farmers will be generated from the National Reserve, and the Rural Payments Agency will allocate them according to the amount of eligible land farmers declare on their 2015 Basic Payment Scheme applications and how many entitlements they already have.

A further two per cent of the BPS budget will be used to give extra money to young farmers if they have taken control of their farm in the last five years.

A leaflet to outline the new details will be posted to farmers in November.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: “This latest leaflet contains key information for new and young farmers about new support they will be able to access at the point their career needs it the most.

“If we are to see this industry continue to thrive, it’s vital that we encourage the brightest and best new talent into farming.”