Welsh farm minister says yes to YESS grant for young entrant

Grants awards totalling £1.705 million will be available to young farmers (under 40) setting-up as head of a holding in Wales under the Welsh Assembly Government's Young Entrants Support scheme (YESS).

Alun Davies deputy minister for Agriculture released the budget for the third year of the YESS last week following the success of the scheme in previous years.

Welcoming the announcement, tenancy specialist Philip Meade at Davis Meade Property Consultants said: "This is an extremely valuable scheme offering a welcome input of capital onto farms and we want to see as many people as possible in a position to benefit from the funding."

His message to applicants is to be sure that their tenancy qualifies and is long enough to allow them to enter the scheme (five years). A break clause within the tenancy, such as a 10 year tenancy with a three year break clause, will not qualify.

Interest in the third year of the scheme has been very strong and the quality of the proposed projects was again of a very high standard according to the minister.

Mr Davies said offer letters have been issued and following confirmation of agreements, full details regarding the number of successful applicants will be announced.

"The continued support for this scheme shows this Government's determination to support youth entrepreneurship and inter-generational change, to help secure a vibrant future for Welsh agriculture," Mr Davies said.

Potential applicants for the 2013-14 Young Entrant Support Scheme should complete a expression of interest form to declare their interest now at http://wales.gov.uk