Information is collected on whether the agricultural holding has benefited from rural development measures in the last three years via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). These measures are laid down in Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, in accordance with certain rules and regulations specified in the most recent legislation, irrespective of whether the payment was made in the reference period, provided that a decision was made in favour of granting the measure.

Measures received directly by the holding are included. Measures at a higher level (regional or group level) are therefore not included, even if the holding has indirectly benefited from this aid.

Payments granted in relation to similar measures, but under Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005, are also excluded.

The following measures are considered:

Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services

The support is intended to help farmers and forest holders meet the costs of using advisory services to improve the overall performance of their holding.

These services cover, as a minimum:
- Mandatory management requirements regarding public health, animal health, plant health, the environment and animal welfare.
- Good agricultural and environmental conditions.
- Occupational safety standards based on EU legislation.

Even if the measure is not directed at farmers, they indirectly benefit from it by having access to the services provided. The paying agencies normally need to keep a record of which farmers indirectly benefited from the measure.

Quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Support under this measure shall be granted to farmers who comply with the stipulations of article 16 of Regulation 1305/2013.

The proposed aid:
- only benefits agricultural products intended for human consumption;
- shall be allocated to food quality schemes, but schemes whose sole aim is to ensure more stringent monitoring of compliance with mandatory standards shall not be eligible for support;
- shall consist of an annual incentive, the amount of which is determined according to the level of the fixed costs arising from participation in said schemes, for a maximum duration of five years.

Investments in physical assets

This support shall cover tangible or intangible investments which:
- improve the overall performance and sustainability of the agricultural holding;
- concern the processing, marketing or development of agricultural products;
- concern infrastructure related to the development, modernisation or adaptation of agriculture and forestry, land consolidation and improvement, and the supply and saving of energy and water; or
- are non-productive investments linked to the achievement of agri-environment and climate objectives, such as biodiversity conservation status of species and habitats, as well as enhancing the public amenity value of a Natura 2000 area or other high nature value systems.

This measure also covers support for young farmers setting up for the first time as holders of an agricultural holding in respect of investments made in order to comply with EU occupational safety standards applicable to agricultural production.

Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions

Support under this measure shall cover:
- investments in preventive measures aimed at reducing the consequences of probable natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events;
- investments in the restoration of production potential and agricultural land damaged by natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events.

Farm and business development

Support under this measure shall cover:

- business start-up aid for:
a. young farmers;
b. non-agricultural activities in rural areas;
c. the development of small farms;

- investments in the creation and development of non-agricultural activities;
- pannual payments or one-off payments for farmers eligible for the small farmers scheme who permanently transfer their holding to another farmer.

Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests

Support under this measure shall cover:
- reforestation and creation of wooded areas;
- establishment of agroforestry systems;
- prevention and restoration of damage to forests caused by forest fires, natural disasters and climate-related threats and catastrophic events;
- investments improving the resilience, environmental value and mitigation potential of forest ecosystems;
- investments in forestry technologies and in the processing, mobilisation and marketing of forest products.

Agri-environment and climate

This measure shall aim to both preserve and promote the necessary changes to agricultural practices that make a positive contribution to the environment and climate.

The support is granted annually to farmers who voluntarily undertake agri-environmental commitments. As a general rule, these commitments shall be undertaken for a period of between five and seven years and impose greater demands than the mandatory requirements (public health, animal health, plant health, the environment and animal welfare) and the minimum requirements concerning the use of fertilisers and plant protection products.

Forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation

Support under this measure shall be granted per hectare of forest to public and private forest holders and other private law and public bodies and their associations, where they undertake, on a voluntary basis, to carry out operations which comply with one or more forest-environment and climate commitments. In the case of state-owned forests, support may only be granted if the body managing such forests is a private body or a municipality.

Organic farming

The support is granted annually to farmers who voluntarily undertake agri-environmental commitments on holdings practising organic farming in accordance with the rules specified in Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007.

Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments

Payments shall be granted annually per hectare of agricultural area or hectare of forest in order to compensate beneficiaries for additional costs and loss of income as a result of the difficulties stemming from the implementation of Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC and the Water Framework Directive in the areas concerned.

Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints

Payments to farmers in mountain areas and other areas facing natural or other specific constraints shall be granted annually per hectare of agricultural area in order to compensate farmers for all or part of the additional costs and loss of income resulting from the constraints on agricultural production in the area concerned.

Animal welfare

Under this measure, payments are granted to farmers who undertake to carry out operations in order to comply with one or more animal welfare commitments and who are active farmers.

The payments shall be granted annually and shall compensate beneficiaries for all or part of the additional costs and loss of income resulting from the commitments made.

Such commitments shall be undertaken for a renewable period of one to seven years.

Risk management

Support under this measure shall cover:
- financial contributions to crop, animal and plant insurance premiums for economic losses caused by adverse climatic events, animal or plant diseases, infestations or an environmental incident;
- financial contributions to mutual funds for the payment of financial compensation to farmers for economic losses caused by adverse climatic events, the outbreak of an animal or plant disease or pest infestation, or an environmental incident;
- an income stabilisation tool consisting of financial contributions to mutual funds offering compensation to farmers for a sharp decline in their income.