GAEC 7- Share Farming Agreement

GAEC 7 – Share farming is where two or more people carry on farming businesses under an agreed arrangement without forming a partnership or company. All the farmers involved share the benefits and the risks.

Each of the farmers make separate contributions to the arrangement - for example, land, machinery, labour and expertise - and takes a share in the produce or gross output.

A share farming agreement may allow farmers to comply with obligations under GAEC 7 for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) payment provided all members adhere to the rules.

The Share Farming Agreements for GAEC 7 – are accepted by the Department once the farmers involved comply with the terms and conditions.

Farmers must take a series of steps, including the following:

• Each herd must complete and submit a Share Farming Agreement

• In addition to the Share Farm Agreement, the Primary Participant must complete a Share Farming Arrangement Form, (SFA 1)

• SFA 1 form must be signed by all farmers in the Share Farming Agreement

• Each member must submit their individual Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) application online via www.agfood.ie

• All share farmers must contribute to the inputs and outputs of the arrangement and share the gross output

• No fixed annual payments should be made

All documents must be submitted by the closing date, 15 May 2025.

Following submission of all parties relevant documents, the Department will later join the parties to the agreement as an individual share farming application.

The application form and share farming agreement must be sent to: