A new report, described as a “cohesive roadmap” for the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sector here, has claimed that exports from the sector could grow by 40% over the next decade. The report, titled ‘Food Harvest 2020’, was launched by Taoiseach Brian Cowen on the 19th July.

The report, which has 209 recommendations, was developed by the 30 member ‘2020 Committee’, established last February by Minister Smith. The committee included senior figures from all areas of the agri-food sector including Macra na Feirme’s National President, Michael Gowing, and Macra/ FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2009, William Keane. It was chaired by Dr Sean Brady.

The report said the industry can help boost economic recovery, predicting the value of food and fisheries exports to rise by more than a third to €12bn a year by 2020. The Food Harvest 2020 report said the agri-food and fisheries sector is the country's most important indigenous industry, directly employing 150,000 people and contributing €24bn to the economy annually.

It also deals with the drinks and forestry sectors and among its 209 recommendations it calls for "smart, green growth". Macra na Feirme National President Michael Gowing has welcomed the forward thinking in the Food Harvest 2020 report. He said, “Harvest 2020’s success will depend on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food’s commitment to dynamic young farmers who are the future of the industry and who will help realise the potential of the report. It is important to have targets and aspiration for the industry but it is also very important to have young people involved in agriculture and ensuring they have the supports and structures that will assist them on the ground. We need to assist our young primary producers by breaking down the barriers to farm entry, an issue that was highlighted just last month by CEJA, the European young farmers organisation at the CAP post 2013 conference in Brussels.”

Mr Gowing continued: “Irish agriculture has a great opportunity to expand and develop many of its sectors. Sustained support and the implementation of policies that are directed at encouraging our young, entrepreneurial farmers are required by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Our Agricultural colleges are full of young educated farmers and they need to be confident that the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and the Government will support them and not turn their backs on them by failing to deliver schemes that encourage them into the industry like Installation Aid and other schemes that drive competitiveness.”

The Macra Nationa President continued by saying that government departments are in a new budget reality but targeting supports to young farmers must be top priority, as Eurostat now highlight Ireland as having less than 6% of its farmers under 35 years old. Mr. Gowing said if the Department doesn’t act soon there won’t be any young, dynamic primary producers to make the ambitious Harvest 2020 report a reality.

The last of the FBD Farmskills semi-finals took place at the Ossary Show in Rathdowney, Co. Laois. Congratulations to the Calan team from Kilkenny and the Ballycoog team from Wicklow who have qualified for the final. The 2010 FBD Farmskills final takes place at the Tullamore Show next weekend.

Good luck to all the teams competing.

Clonakilty Macra held a sandcastle competition at Inchydoney Beach on the Sunday afternoon and a free BBQ in the town later that night. All proceeds from the two events were in aid of the local charity – West Cork Rapid Response.

The sandcastle competition begun at 2pm and there were thirty four groups competing. Macra clubs represented at the competition included Glanmire, Kilmeen, Ballinascarthy, Mizen and Dunmanway. Former winner William Morris from Caheragh Macra and a group from Clonakilty Macra were also present as demonstrators rather than competitors. All competitors were supplied with chocolate, crisps and sweets during the three-hour time frame. While the weather was perfect for the beach it was the tides that decided the end of the competition. Prizes were presented to many of the competitors and a great day was had by all.

The BBQ began at 9pm later that evening in the Courtyard Bar in Clonakilty. The herbs and the award winning lettuce from Clonakilty Macra’s allotment were used for the BBQ while Scally’s Supervalu provided the burger buns. Assistance was also provided in the form of sausages and burgers from Scally’s Centra and Edward Twomey’s butchers. A raffle was also held on the night and Clonakilty Macra would like to thank those who sponsored the spot prizes – Inchydoney Lodge and Spa, Forrestals Pharmacy, Harringtons Pharmacy, Paddy Meades newsagents Kerrs bookshop and Coughlan’s bookshop. We would also like to thank the lifeguards at Inchydoney and the Courtyard Bar for their help in running the events on the day. A presentation to the West Cork Rapid Response will be held in the near future.

The 2010 International Miss Macra competition will take place in the Dundrum House Hotel this weekend. Clonakilty Macra’s Secretary Edel Ronan was crowned the 2009 International Miss Macra and thus travels to Dundrum to pass on the crown and sash.

For more details on Clonakilty Macra log onto www.clonakiltymacra.com

RTÉ is making a television documentary and would like to hear from men aged 18-25 who are currently unemployed and thinking about leaving Ireland in search of work.

They are particularly interested in speaking with young farmers who may have worked in other industries other than farming, such as construction or worked for a company that recently closed down.

If you or someone you know is in this situation please get in toucch with them.The email address is docresearch@rte.ie or telephone 01-2083151 and leave your name and a contact number.

Chairman of Macra na Feirme’s Agricultural Affairs committee Kiernan McEvoy has said the decision to exclude applications under the Early Retirement Scheme ‘hardship clause payments’ where it was envisaged that the transferee would be set up under Installation Aid, flies in the face of policies to encourage youth into the agriculture sector.

This decision by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food not to facilitate these transfers under their selected option but instead allow alternative provisions of enlarged holdings for these applicants is not a solution. Instead the Minister has failed to honor his commitment to deal with hardship cases under the Installation Aid scheme.

Mr. Mc Evoy said he was calling on the Minister to immediately honour his commitment to these farmers as he did with the ERS hardship cases.

Installation Aid and Early Retirement schemes are linked structural schemes – Mr McEvoy said we have a crisis in terms of youth entering the sector, we have agricultural colleges full but these numbers aren’t necessarily translating into young farmers setting up in farming due to the barriers to entry such as the absence of Installation Aid and access to credit. Young farmers, he said, who were left in limbo following the suspension of the Installation Aid scheme in October 2008 included those with substantially completed applications which were subject to delays by various arms of the state and incurred the cost of transferring land and establishing in farming need to have their applications processed.

Macra welcomed the decision on introduce the ERS hardship payment scheme which will cost an estimated €10 million, but are dismayed by the fact that for one third of the money the Installation Aid hardship cases could have been dealt with.

The importance of support for young farmers, who now represent just 7% of all farmers, was outline in George Lyon’s report on CAP 2013 when he stated ‘that the future of the agricultural sector may be at risk if the number of farmers continues to decline’. Minister Smith is turning his back on the installation of young people into farming, a policy that does not bode well for reports such as ‘Food Harvest 2020’ as Ireland will end up with its largest indigenous sector lacking adequate numbers of young dynamic primary producers.

Virginia Show

Ramor Macra will be having their stand at the expanded Virginia Show this year which will be taking place on its new date of 31 July 2010 at the Showgrounds, Virginia. This year the stand will be a ducking chair competition with a few well known local faces taking their seats to face the plunge into the icy waters below. Come visit the stand which will be by the lake and see what Macra is really all about!!!

Cavan Community Forum Cavan Macra will also have their stand as part of the Cavan Community Forum stand of which Cavan Macra is a member and will be distributing flyers and information on what Macra na Feirme really does. Don't forget to stop by and chat to the girls and guys who will fill you in on all Macra has to offer.

Cavan Car Treasure Hunt and Presentation Night

The county-wide Car Treasure Hunt and Presentation Night has been set for August 28th 2010. The scavenger hunt will be a county wide hunt with teams made up of members of all clubs in mixed teams trekking around the county in search of clues. This will be followed by a celebratory dinner and awards presentation ceremony for all those who won competitions in Cavan in the 2009/2010 year. More information to follow but please contact your local club if interested in partaking.

Mitchelstown Macra AGM Annual General Meeting of the recently reformed Mitchelstown Macra will take place on Friday August 6th in The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown at 9pm. Election of officers for the coming year will take place on the night. All new members are welcome to attend. We welcome anyone from the Mitchelstown and surrounding areas. For more info contact Niamh on 086-3601785 or Aisling on 087-1327121. See www.facebook.com/MitchelstownMacra or www.twitter.com/MtownMacra

Redcross Car Treasure Hunt The Redcross Macra are holding a car treasure hunt Sunday the 15th of August at 2pm, meeting in the village. Last years was a great success and this years is promises to be just as good. Contact your chair or secretary to arrange cars, or just meet in Redcross!

Wicklow GAA County round of Macra GAA will be held Sunday the 15th August at 7pm in Aughrim Community field and Sunday the 22nd August at 3pm in Aughrim community field. There will be a competition in the mens and womens 7-aside.