I think that it is really exciting that there are now almost 2,800 young people who want to obtain a Level 2 qualification in agriculture and enter this wonderful industry. It has to be exciting times ahead for us all with this new blood coming in. What other industry could boost such an injection of new blood in such a short space of time, in our small country? But I also really wonder if this is going to be the revolution of our industry.

Take the example of a farmer with a wife under 40, who potentially is lined up to take over as head of the business in 2015 just to avail of the young farmer top-up. If she has a full-time job, maybe as a solicitor or a school teacher, what can she really bring to this industry?

When she becomes head of holding, will she really be able to invest the time necessary into the farm to make large scale improvements?

Don’t get me wrong, there are some great farmers’ wives and wives who are farmers in their own right, who are pushing this industry forward, but is this example really what the young farmer top-up is designed to support? It’s not just wives taking over as head of business. There are sons and daughters lined up to take over, but who are already in full-time off-farm employment. There was one story that I heard last week that really bugged me. A young man rang to arrange when he would do his Level 2 course. The person on the other end of the phone asked him would daytime or evening suit him and what area he lived in. He replied that he could only do it online as he was at university in London.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I fear that what has started as a really good idea has become a complete farce. Does anyone really think that 40 hours of class time is enough to qualify someone as head of holding?

Is there any other industry or business that would allow someone to take majority control after 40 hours of tuition? I was in England a couple of weeks ago with a group of farmers and while there were some under-40s the majority were over 40. I found it refreshing to see the enthusiasm and drive for improvement that they had. I thought to myself, what is wrong with our industry that these people are now being asked to hand over control of their business, just to try to maintain their Single Farm Payment going forward?

If this isn’t bad enough, then there is also the possibility that in future grant schemes they will obtain 40% rather than 50% just because they are over 40.

I am not against having young people in our industry, but discriminating against someone because they are over 40 is wrong.

In my opinion, the cut-off point should be over 65 (or whatever the retirement age is at the time). Assuming that the threshold of 40 years cannot be changed, rather than making it a requirement to become head of holding to receive the top-up, being a partner in the business should be sufficient. They should also have to prove that they have time to dedicate to the business. If you are at university in London can you really run a farm in Fermanagh?

Long term, what I would like to see is a retirement scheme that would encourage older farmers to take more of a back seat and let a younger person take over.

It should not be money for doing nothing, but targeted support towards legal fees and other expenses involved in the transfer of the business.