The agriculture sector has reached a crisis point on farm succession and there is an urgent need for the delivery of a succession scheme, according to Macra.
Macra president Josephine O’Neill is calling on the Government to take action.
“If our ministers and officials do not take action soon on this critical issue, I fear we may not have the next generation to take on farms.
"We have been waiting over 40 years to see action on this matter and it is now time we hold the Minister to account,” he said.
During a series of public consultations organised by Macra in January and attended by farmers, both young and old, the need for a succession scheme to support the transition from one generation to the next was highlighted.
“Older farmers present at the consultations shared the issues previously experienced as a result of the last retirement scheme and the fears that this resulted in,” O’Neill said.
Programme for Government
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to a succession scheme, but such a scheme has yet to be delivered.
"Young people throughout Ireland want to farm and we, as the young farmers' organisation, are calling for more support to be given to the next generation, who are the future.
“It is great to see that the other farming organisations are now listening to us and echoing our call for the delivery of a succession scheme,” O’Neill said, referring to the Irish Farmers' Association’s call for such a scheme in its CAP post-2027 document this week.
Installation aid
In addition to its ongoing calls for a structured succession framework, Macra is also calling for the urgent inclusion of installation aid in the next CAP. This aid is critical to empowering young farmers and new entrants to establish and grow their farm enterprises, it said.
“Ireland is the only EU country which doesn’t provide installation aid, a major disadvantage to our young farmers and one which must be addressed in the budget 2026 and the upcoming CAP.
“Our Government has failed to provide for our young farmers for too long, it’s now time that they step up and provide the financial incentives to support Ireland’s young farmers,” O'Neill said.
Read more
IFA seeks farm succession scheme in next CAP
Why succession talks should focus on more than money
The agriculture sector has reached a crisis point on farm succession and there is an urgent need for the delivery of a succession scheme, according to Macra.
Macra president Josephine O’Neill is calling on the Government to take action.
“If our ministers and officials do not take action soon on this critical issue, I fear we may not have the next generation to take on farms.
"We have been waiting over 40 years to see action on this matter and it is now time we hold the Minister to account,” he said.
During a series of public consultations organised by Macra in January and attended by farmers, both young and old, the need for a succession scheme to support the transition from one generation to the next was highlighted.
“Older farmers present at the consultations shared the issues previously experienced as a result of the last retirement scheme and the fears that this resulted in,” O’Neill said.
Programme for Government
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to a succession scheme, but such a scheme has yet to be delivered.
"Young people throughout Ireland want to farm and we, as the young farmers' organisation, are calling for more support to be given to the next generation, who are the future.
“It is great to see that the other farming organisations are now listening to us and echoing our call for the delivery of a succession scheme,” O’Neill said, referring to the Irish Farmers' Association’s call for such a scheme in its CAP post-2027 document this week.
Installation aid
In addition to its ongoing calls for a structured succession framework, Macra is also calling for the urgent inclusion of installation aid in the next CAP. This aid is critical to empowering young farmers and new entrants to establish and grow their farm enterprises, it said.
“Ireland is the only EU country which doesn’t provide installation aid, a major disadvantage to our young farmers and one which must be addressed in the budget 2026 and the upcoming CAP.
“Our Government has failed to provide for our young farmers for too long, it’s now time that they step up and provide the financial incentives to support Ireland’s young farmers,” O'Neill said.
Read more
IFA seeks farm succession scheme in next CAP
Why succession talks should focus on more than money
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