How We Can Support You
Farming supports and initiatives delivered by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG.
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG has a long history of working with the farming community in South Kerry since the establishment of the organisation in 1991. The supports in the 1990’s focussed mainly on smallholders, but that has expanded over the years to now include a wide range of supports and initiatives. For example; weekly additional income supports from working on the Rural Social Scheme, receiving maintenance payments for walkway’s on their lands, farm environmental payments through ACRES Co-operation scheme, Farm Safety and Well-being initiatives, giving back as a host farmer on the Kerry Social Farming project, enjoying social gatherings as part of the Rural Men’s project, availing of the cattle weighing service and through receiving grand aid through the LEADER programme to set up new on-farm and off-farm businesses.
Current supports available for farmers and farm families.
Rural Social Scheme.
Farming is changing and with the cost of living rising, family incomes can feel under pressure. Over 450 farmers in South Kerry have taken part in the Rural Social Scheme between 2004-2024 which shows that the scheme is delivering for farmers. If you’re a farmer or related to one, you could be eligible to join the scheme and increase your income. Work 19 and a half farm-friendly hours a week on local projects from upgrading walkways, maintaining sports grounds, graveyards and community buildings to office work and much more there is a local job for every individual that qualifies to participate.
• Farm Household entitlements service
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG provides one-to-one free confidential advice and support on farm household entitlements. This service is often the first contact with farm families and can lead onto new opportunities and new income streams. From social welfare schemes to health board entitlements, 3rd level grants to Government department schemes and services all enquiries are relevant.
Kerry Social Farming.
Kerry Social farming offers farm families the opportunity to provide weekly supports to people with disabilities by allowing them to come and work on the family farm. The farmer benefits through the additional company on the farm each week and being involved with a new network of farmers. Giving back through helping people with disabilities has a very positive impact on the well-being of the farmer and farm family. There is always need and demand for new host farmers.
Social farming offers people with disabilities or mental health challenges the chance to take part in everyday life and work on local family farms weekly. It’s about improving quality of life, building inclusion, and creating meaningful community connections for people with disabilities. In 2025 KSF had 40 host farms and 60 participants and delivers almost 2000 social farming days.
The Walks scheme
The walks scheme provides payments to farmers for the maintenance of Way Marked Ways going through their farmlands. There are over 300 farmers involved in the maintenance of these national way-marked ways and loop walks across the South Kerry area.
The Cattle weighing Service in conjunction with ICBF
Farmers are required to weigh cows and calves as part of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine funded Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP). South Kerry Development Partnership CLG provides cattle weighing service to assist farmers with this element of the SCEP which is an important programme from and environmental and income point of view for beef farmers. The cattle weighing service is also available to dairy farmers who require weighing records to be submitted to ICBF.
Farm Safety and well being programme
Following an application process to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine each year, South Kerry Development Partnership CLG provides farm safety and well-being events and training courses. The Following training and well-being events have been provided in the past and it is expected that these will continue with further courses and events to be added depending on demand.
- Chainsaw training
- Tractor Driving skills training for young people
- First Aid Training
- Health information days at local marts.
- Social gathering for older farmers to address isolation.
ACRES Co-operative
The ACRES Kerry – West Cork CP is one of eight co-operation projects across Ireland which are working with farmers in areas of high nature value as part of the Common Agricultural Policy’s national agri-environmental climate measure. It is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM).