The person named has not farmed since 1982. He wrote to my Department inquiring about his eligibility under the new scheme of early retirement from farming. The position, as outlined by him, was that he had ceased farming in 1982 due to an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis and since then had leased his land and engaged in a business outside of farming.
The conditions for eligibility under the early retirement ERS2 2000 scheme specify that the applicant must have farmed for the ten calendar years prior to the signing of the transfer-lease documents and must, at the same time, derive not less than 25% of his or her income from farming. These conditions could not be met by the person named as he had ceased farming in 1982.
While provision is made under the scheme for the waiving of certain conditions under force majeure, my Department considered that the circumstances in this case, where the person named had not farmed for nearly 20 years, were such that he could not reasonably be considered eligible.