The FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition, organised by Macra na Feirme, once again showcased the depth of talent coming into Irish agriculture.

Jonathan Marry, an innovative 27-year-old pig farmer with an intense focus on technical efficiency and profitability, is a well-deserved winner.

While the income challenges currently facing the dairy and pig sectors were rightly acknowledged, it did not dampen the level of positivity towards the future. Last year’s winner, Sean O’Donnell, rightly pointed out that farmers do not make business decisions based on one year’s income. It is the performance of the business over a 10- to 20-year period that matters.

The clear message to young farmers was that while current market conditions were difficult, there is a bright future for the efficient producer that invests strategically in areas of the business to improve resilience.

Many young farmers were of the view that the TAMS scheme was encouraging them to invest in the wrong areas of the business and that it should be targeted at areas such as drainage, grazing infrastructure and reseeding – all with the aim of growing more grass and not building more sheds.