At a Teagasc sheep meeting in Ballybofey last week, Teagasc adviser Shane McHugh advised farmers to consider the entire suite of items eligible for grant aid. He said the way farms are operated in terms of labour efficiency can have a marked effect on enticing the next generation of farmers into the sheep sector.

“It is important to have good handling facilities if you want to entice young people into sheep farming. We can’t expect to have young people facing hardship at weekends running after sheep to get jobs done and then ask why they might not like sheep farming,” he said.

Shane added that even a small investment in sheep hurdles, a simple race and a drafting gate can deliver hugely in not only reducing the energy expended in catching and handling sheep, but also in reducing the stress and strain on the body of an aging workforce.

Many farmers often raise the minimum investment value of €2,000 (excluding VAT), which many say is a barrier to making an application, with selected items sometimes falling under this threshold. Shane said that in addition to sheep handling equipment and sheep fencing, farmers should also be looking at ways to improve safety.

Farm safety

“There are many farms that we could readily identify areas where safety can be improved. Items such as replacing swinging doors with rolling doors, rewiring old sheds, improving farm lighting and reinforcing roof skylights are all critical areas that are eligible for grant aid.”

Shane concluded by encouraging farmers to talk to their adviser if they are unsure about eligible items or reference costs.

“The current tranche closes on 7 December. Don’t leave it until the last minute to decide that you want to make an application.

“For young farmers under the age of 40, remember, to gain a higher rate (60%) of grant aid you must have started farming in the previous five years and hold an agricultural qualification. Talk to your Teagasc adviser or call into the office and we can discuss and put a plan in place. A small investment now can deliver huge savings in the future.”