Heather Humphreys on farm succession
Fine Gael’s candidate for the presidency Heather Humphreys has pointed to generational renewal in farming as an issue on which she feels well placed to represent farmers on.
“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 told the Irish Farmers Journal on Tuesday.
“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.
"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.”
Humphreys also hit out at calendar farming in her comments to the Irish Farmers Journal and stated that farmers’ progress on adopting new technologies should factor into the derogation debate.
Catherine Connolly on succession scheme for young and old
Any potential succession scheme brought in by the Government needs to cater for younger and older farmers, presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said.
Answering questions on generational renewal on Tuesday at the National Ploughing Championships, Connolly said it “certainly is a problem and a challenge that we need to sort out”. The Galway TD added that it is important to encourage young farmers, but “we must be wary of ageism”.
“[Succession] is really very important. We need young people on farms. We cannot survive without sustainable farming and without a livelihood for young people and older people.
“Government policy must reflect that, but it must be done by consent, it must always be done by consent. We must be wary of ageism. I know it has started as a partnership and I welcome that,” she said.
The presidential candidate was referencing a previous farm succession scheme, which had strict rules around the retiree’s farming activities.
The role of the president can highlight positive elements of farming and have an influence for the sector when representing Ireland abroad, presidential candidate Jim Gavin has said.
“Rural society is part of our identity as Irish people. The presidency can enrich that by highlighting the really positive things that farming and rural society brings to Ireland in terms of the supports,” he said.
“An Taoiseach and the Government are the policy makers, but I believe the presidency can have an influence, a soft influence, when representing the best that Ireland is and abroad representing the great farming industry that we have in Ireland.” The famed former Dublin football boss also highlighted his rural roots.
“I’m a Dublin man, I’m very proud of it, but my roots are from west Clare. My mum and dad are from the west, I would have grown up on the farm there during the summer holidays in the 70s and 80s.”
Heather Humphreys on farm succession
Fine Gael’s candidate for the presidency Heather Humphreys has pointed to generational renewal in farming as an issue on which she feels well placed to represent farmers on.
“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 told the Irish Farmers Journal on Tuesday.
“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.
"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.”
Humphreys also hit out at calendar farming in her comments to the Irish Farmers Journal and stated that farmers’ progress on adopting new technologies should factor into the derogation debate.
Catherine Connolly on succession scheme for young and old
Any potential succession scheme brought in by the Government needs to cater for younger and older farmers, presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said.
Answering questions on generational renewal on Tuesday at the National Ploughing Championships, Connolly said it “certainly is a problem and a challenge that we need to sort out”. The Galway TD added that it is important to encourage young farmers, but “we must be wary of ageism”.
“[Succession] is really very important. We need young people on farms. We cannot survive without sustainable farming and without a livelihood for young people and older people.
“Government policy must reflect that, but it must be done by consent, it must always be done by consent. We must be wary of ageism. I know it has started as a partnership and I welcome that,” she said.
The presidential candidate was referencing a previous farm succession scheme, which had strict rules around the retiree’s farming activities.
The role of the president can highlight positive elements of farming and have an influence for the sector when representing Ireland abroad, presidential candidate Jim Gavin has said.
“Rural society is part of our identity as Irish people. The presidency can enrich that by highlighting the really positive things that farming and rural society brings to Ireland in terms of the supports,” he said.
“An Taoiseach and the Government are the policy makers, but I believe the presidency can have an influence, a soft influence, when representing the best that Ireland is and abroad representing the great farming industry that we have in Ireland.” The famed former Dublin football boss also highlighted his rural roots.
“I’m a Dublin man, I’m very proud of it, but my roots are from west Clare. My mum and dad are from the west, I would have grown up on the farm there during the summer holidays in the 70s and 80s.”
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