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<p>As set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan this Government will provide funding
to create lasting opportunities for new entrants to access land, infrastructure and
support to establish successful and innovative businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Funding for
this new entrant scheme will be allocated from savings resulting from reducing direct
payments helping new farmers to access opportunities in the sector in future.</p><p>
</p><p>The details and eligibility criteria of the new entrant scheme are being developed
through a consultative co-design process with stakeholders. The co-design steering
group includes representatives of local authorities with council farm estates, new
entrant farmers, providers of innovation support for new farmers, cooperative and
community land organisations and private landowners. We will also be engaging a wide
range of stakeholders through workshops on key issues between February and May 2021.
We will report more details of the scheme in the summer of 2021 and aim to launch
the scheme in 2022.</p><p> </p><p>During the agricultural transition the Government
also intends to offer eligible farmers the option of a lump sum payment in place of
future Direct Payments if they wish to leave the industry. By making it easier for
those farmers who wish to retire to do so, the lump sum payment should free up more
land for new entrants to start up. We plan to consult farmers on the details of our
lump sum scheme shortly.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In addition, the Government
is working with the Skills Leadership Group to introduce a professional body for agriculture
and horticulture creating clear career pathways and promoting the sector as a progressive
career choice to those wishing to enter the industry.</p>
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