When Sean Finan, Macra National President began his tenure in May this year, overseeing the successful roll-out of the Young Farmer Skillnet programme was one of his main priorities. Behind the scenes, Finan had also been closely involved in the programme's early stages as he was Macra na Feirme National Treasurer at that time the application to Skillnet was carried out.

The Young Farmer Skillnet is a further training programme for young farmers, called 'Farm Cert', which will provide them with various business, technical and personal skills to make the most of their work on the farm. It is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd, funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.

Finan's determination to see the programme through to the end was rewarded this week with the launch of the programme in the Irish Farm Centre, which was attended by Minister of State at the Departments of Education and Skills and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with Special Responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English and Tracey Donnery of Skillnets.

Minister English said the Young Farmer Skillnet "will have a major impact in the very short-term but also in the long-term in this sector. Farming is a business, you have to remember that. And in any industry further training is very important."

The majority of the training courses can be completed over a one day period and young farmers must complete four courses out of each of the three categories, including the mandatory course in each category. The mandatory course in the "Business" category is 'Business Planning Training', the mandatory course in the "Personal" category is 'Farm Safety' and the mandatory course in the "Technical" category is 'Soil Fertility'.

The programme will take place in Leinster, Munster and the northwest this year but Finan says other areas can also apply to have young farmers participate in the training programmes, which are currently due to open in September.

Before the launch of the scheme, Broadmore Research and Consulting surveyed 176 young farmers and interviewed a further 33 farmers as part of the needs analysis to assess their views. A key finding from the needs analysis was that young farmers have a relatively high level of formal agricultural training. However, the level of engagement in further training is quite low.

It was also found that a lack of awareness of training leads to an inadequate understanding of the benefits of training for young farmers.

At the launch, Finan stressed the importance of continuing education for young farmers, "If you're an accountant, lawyer or engineer, you will be familiar with CPD or Continued Professional Development. This CPD allows you to continually upskill in areas where you require it. Young farmers who have finished the Green Cert and who have farmed for a year or two often realise that they need upskilling but find it difficult to find a course that fulfils their needs. The new 'Farm Cert' will deliver this training."

The President also highlighted the fact that with the new CAP, abolition of milk quotas and a new Foodwise 2025 report, this programme is coming at a very good time for young farmers. "These are all exciting developments within our sector," he said. "The Macra na Feirme Young Farmer Skillnet will play its part in providing young farmers with the skills to embrace all these exciting developments, produce more, be more efficient, be the best at what we do and at the same time make a living."

Listen to our interview with Seán Finan below or to this week's full Irish Farmers Journal podcast.