Press Room

Macra na Feirme has called for the immediate implementation of the Young Farmer Installation Aid and Early Retirement schemes, as the organisation believes that the current vacuum between the old and new schemes is slowing the transfer of farms to younger farmers.

"Without doubt, one of the greatest challenges facing the industry going forward is the absence of young people willing to take up farming as a career and young farmers who are ready to commence farming need these schemes in place, otherwise they may chose a different career direction," said Catherine Buckley, national president.

Ms Buckley said that the Early Retirement Scheme was one of the most crucial measures in promoting farm restructuring and encouraging the transfer of land to young farmers. On the Young Farmer Installation Aid, she pointed out that it helps to facilitate the initial establishment and the structural adjustment costs of setting up in agriculture.

Ms Buckley said that Macra had outlined a number of issues with the schemes, including the proposed 10 year lease by the Department under the Installation Aid scheme, and stated that her organisation believed that the minimum length of the lease should be 5 years.

"Enforcing a 10 year lease goes beyond the term of the Single Farm Payment, reduces young farmers bargaining power and is very difficult to value in a volatile land rental market," she stated.

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