Over 150 people attended the 'Forgotten Farmer' meeting in the Springs Hotel in Athlone on Sunday, including the three IFA presidential candidates and representatives from Macra na Feirme, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).

Kenneth O'Brien (right), head of the 'Forgotten Farmer' group, got the full commitment from the farm organisations involved to work together to provide a solution for these young farmers.

Listen to an interview with him in our podcast below:

The key to this was to identify a mechanism under the National Reserve's force majeure or exceptional circumstances.

3,900 forgotten farmers

It was identified at the meeting that over 3,900 farmers fall into the 'forgotten farmers' category.

Young farmers described their situation, including farmers who started farming in 2007 and just lost out to the National Reserve.

It was also called for that all eligible farmers under 40 would receive the TAMS top-up up to 60%.

€12m would be needed to address these issues, it was heard at the meeting.

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Farm organisations commit to help 'forgotten farmers'

A 'forgotten farmer' meeting took place on Sunday afternoon in Athlone for young farmers under the age of 40 who feel discriminated against under the CAP reforms.