Years of highlighting the need for generational renewal for farmers has failed to yield tangible support, says Macra na Feirme.
The organisation has been motivating for a substantial farmer retirement scheme to financially support the retiring farmer while enabling a genuine, ongoing connection to the farm if so desired. In addition, they have been calling for that land to enter into the hands of young farmers regardless of enterprise when it becomes available through sale or lease.
However, the retirement scheme advanced recently by the Department of Agriculture has failed to support and facilitate generational renewal.
Macra na Feirme says limiting the land use to certain enterprises will drive the costs of land leases only, which is a huge barrier to young farmers wanting to enter the sector or grow their family business. It will also lower the value of the asset as there are only a small number of enterprises, including forestry, which can be operated on that land.
“What is needed to support generational renewal across all enterprises is access to land and access to suitable finance to support the development of any and all farm enterprises. With food security an issue, and the science that shows that young farmers are more productive, it makes complete sense to get land into the hands of young farmers,” said John Keane, Macra na Feirme national president.
“Young farmers require tangible support that will drive an increase in the number of young active farmers, and as we have stated before young farmers need the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to establish a target for the number of active young farmers by 2030.”