Budget Mixed for Young Farmers
Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley welcomed the renewal of Stamp Duty and Stock Relief in today's budget which she said will continue to be of benefit to young farmers.
Ms Buckley said Macra had continually lobbied on behalf of young farmers to retain these targeted reliefs as they are particularly effective and directly assist active young farmers who are establishing and building up their businesses.
Firstly, the extension of Stamp Duty relief up to 2012 is a crucial incentive in encouraging the early transfer of land to committed and progressive young trained farmers” said Ms Buckley 'The exemption is worth nearly 20 million per annum to young farmers and will be worth millions over the lifetime of the renewal,' she added.
Secondly the extension of 100% Stock Relief for young trained farmers for two years will aid young farmers to build up stock numbers during their first four years in production.
Macra Slams Government Decision to Suspend Both Young Farmer Instillation Aid Scheme (YFIS) and Early Retirement Schemes (ERS)
On the other hand, however, Macra na Feirme National President Catherine Buckley slammed the decision by the Government to freeze Young Farmers Structural Schemes, YFIS and ERS.
Ms Buckley said these schemes are crucial as they promote farm restructuring and encourage the transfer of land to young farmers. 'Freezing these schemes is completely contradictory to Government policy which is to encourage the early transfer of farms to young trained farmers,' she said.
Ms Buckley pointed out that with the recent increase in the numbers attending agriculture colleges, it's never been more important to encourage young people into farming, and to do this we need to ensure that young people see agriculture as an attractive, rewarding and financially viable career option," she said. Today’s decision is not strategic and will not benefit the future productive capacity of the sector.
The Young Farmer Installation Aid scheme is a vital instrument and currently there are very few ways in which the Government can assist farmers without having to get clearance from the EU which does not constitute state aid.
The Early Retirement Scheme is also an important measure in promoting farm restructuring and encouraging the transfer of land to young farmers.
Despite the recent increase in numbers attending agricultural colleges one of the biggest challenges facing the industry going forward is the shortage of young people willing to take up farming as a career. Many of those who are interested in farming as a livelihood are not willing to hang around playing second fiddle on the farm for years', Ms Buckley concluded.
