ABSTRACT

EU gives many opportunities for its Member States through support measures co-funded under the Common Agricultural Policy. Every Member State implements a National Rural Development Plan (RDP) which must be based on EU Strategic Guidelines (EC 2005). The most important measure of RDP that targets age classes is “Setting up Young Farmers” (Measure 112). The “Setting up Young Farmers” measure has been included in RDPs in the majority of Member States in the last two programming periods, 2000-2006 and 2007-2013. The “Setting up Young Farmers” measure supports the entry of young persons into the agriculture sector and provides for a oneoff grant to be paid to trained farmers between the ages of 18 and 40 who

have been set-up in farming for the fi rst time (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Ireland 2009).