In a poll of young farmers at the Macra na Feirme/Irish Farmers Journal CAP 2020 discussion in Kilkenny on Thursday night, 60% of young farmers said they would not be availing of the new low-cost loans.

While the result might surprise some, for others it is a fact of reality that many young farmers do not yet have land, assets or ownership of a business to make such critical financial decisions.

One of the other strong results gathered from over 100 young farmers in the south east was that grant aid in future CAP agreements should help investment in growing and utilising more grass.

Over 90% of the young farmers said there should be grant aid available for investment in water infrastructure, roadways, reseeding, fencing, application of capital fertilsiers such as phosphorus, potassium and lime in any future TAMS-style arrangement.

The Kilkenny meeting was the fifth in a series of events organised for young farmers to start the process of gathering views on what the shape of the next CAP agreement should look like.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan announced on Thursday that a consultation will continue for the next 12 weeks and he is asking interested parties to make submissions.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal after the Kilkenny event, president of Macra Sean Finan said, “we have gathered very valuable information from young farmers which will be very useful to Macra na Feirme in developing our CAP 2020 policy. I would like to thank the 600 young farmers who attended and gave valuable feedback over the five nights and to the Irish Farmers Journal for joining us to roll out the consultation.”

Read more

Make sure your voice is heard in CAP consultation