The Labour Party has committed to reintroducing the Early Retirement Scheme and implementing “a standardised and simplified” hedge-cutting grant for farmers.

The Early Retirement Scheme was last opened in 2009 while a hedge-cutting grant of €50/km is currently available to community groups.

It will create new opportunities for farmers and workers in these sectors to raise their incomes

In its election 2020 manifesto, Labour said its vision was: “The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will develop and implement a plan to ensure that everyone can access healthy, nutritious food at an affordable price.

“It will create new opportunities for farmers and workers in these sectors to raise their incomes.”

Labour wants a fairer distribution of income for small and disadvantaged farmers under CAP reforms. It also committed to pushing for increased environmental incentives.

To boost farm family incomes and provide “alternative, sustainable uses of farmland”, Labour wants to create a farm income diversification scheme. It also wants to promote organic farming.