Ploughing: 'succession is an issue I can speak up on for farmers' - Humphreys

Fine Gael’s candidate for the upcoming presential election Heather Humphreys has said that farm succession is an issue she believes she is well-placed to advocate on behalf of farmers.

The former Minister for Rural Affairs and Social Protection stated to the Irish Farmers Journal that she wants to see more young people taking on farms, particularly younger women, when speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan.

“I think the farm retirement scheme was a good scheme. There was a lot of farmers who took it up and it allowed the transition to the next generation,” Humphreys responded to a question on farm organisation’s calls for a succession scheme.

“Myself and my husband, we are farming – well he does the farming, I do the talking – and we have family.

“I would like to see the farm move onto the next generation. I have two daughters and we would like one of the girls to take the farm over or both of them but we would like them to do the farming.

“That is an issue that is close to my heart and is something that I will be able to speak up on for the farmers of this country, particularly the young women as well.

We need to get young women into farming and it is important that we do.”

Calendar farming

When asked on her position on Ireland’s bid to retain the nitrates derogation, the former Monaghan TD said that farmers’ efforts to embrace new technologies, such as low emission slurry spreading, must be recognised.

She also questioned the rationale for some of the rules and regulations imposed on farmers in deadlines like those in place for slurry spreading.

“As far as I’m concerned, the world we live in has changed and farming by the calendar is not a good idea in my book,” Humphreys continued.

“I was reared on a farm and you can see that the seasons have changed somewhat and we need to be able to allow farmers to do their work in conjunction with nature, in conjunction with the right weather conditions.

The candidate set out her stall on whether cattle would accompany her into Phoenix Park, should her bid for the presidency find success.

“Well now, my brother would like the Friesians and my husband would like the Herefords so maybe we could have a few black Whiteheads.”