The Scottish Government has been asked to look at the rules surrounding the definition of new entrants, following the announcement that Young Farmers Start-Up grants will not be re-opened to future applications.
Farmers have expressed deep concerns that the grants, which also includes the New Entrants Start-Up, will not be re-opened.
NFU Scotland said a significant number of genuine new farm businesses are being shut out of the National Reserve as well as the New Entrants Start-up grant and other capital grant schemes.
The interpretation of ‘new entrant’ eligibility criteria currently deems individuals as being ‘active’ for more than five years because of the previous years before they were properly established as businesses in their own right being counted.
It is NFU Scotland’s concern that many future farmers who already have valuable experience are being sidelined, whilst others of less experience who are eligible can more readily access support.
In the letter to Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing, NFUS Next Generation Chairman Mark Donald said the Scottish Government has "often talked of the great importance of new entrants to agriculture in the past".
“However, the recent news that due to budgetary constraints the Scottish Government would not re-open the Young Farmers Start-Up and New Entrants Start-Up Grants for future applications is hugely disappointing,” Mr Donald said.
“Surely the levels of demand are indicative of a real enthusiasm from the next generation of Scotland’s farmers and crofters to get a foothold in the industry.
Mr Donald added: “The demand for this funding was not unanticipated and in our letter to Mr Ewing we have asked for further discussion on the allocation of funds to these grant programmes as being undeniably necessary and have encouraged budget allocation within the Scottish Rural Development Programme to be reconsidered to ensure the continuity of these schemes.”
