Attracting young people into agriculture is an issue across Europe, according to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed. Speaking at the Muskerry Macra na Feirme event last Friday titled Growing Irish agriculture in an uncertain future in Ballyvourney, the Minister acknowledged that it is a bigger issue in the most marginal farming areas.
Creed outlined how the age profile in dairy is lower because it offers better opportunities to earn a meaningful wage while the same cannot be said in other sectors.
“The age profile recognises the lack of economic opportunity there. If we are to be serious about addressing that issue all of the incentives that are there for young farmers are important but the most important signal nowadays is an adequately funded CAP. That is a signal that says Europe is serious about agriculture in the future. It is tied in to the budget for the CAP but at the moment we are not happy with it.”
Speakers at the Muskerry Macra na Feirme event Growing Irish Agriculture in an uncertain future. Left to right James Healy, national president Macra na Feirme, Michael Doran, chair, ICBF, Brian Denn, IFAC, Noreen Lacey, IFAC, Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, Alan Twomey, chair of Muskerry Macra na Feirme, Pat Dillon, Teagasc, and Alan Jagoe, forum chair.
Almost two-thirds of EU members are in favour of at least maintaining current CAP budget levels. However, Minister Creed cautioned that there are strong signals from certain countries that they are still resistant to budget increases.
“We could stand in splendid isolation shouting for an increase in the budget when the reality is if we can get it at its current level it’s as good as we could get in the current environment and that’s not even certain," he said.
ICBF
The meeting also heard from Michael Doran, chair of ICBF. He gave a brief outline on a current pilot project using DNA for future calf registration. A small number of herds, where all animals are genotyped, are taking part. Using a tissue sample taken at tagging, researchers were able to decipher the dam, sire, sex and breed of the animal using a DNA database.
Doran, a Wexford dairy farmer, also gave an update on the development of the dairy beef index and added that, as of last week, the ICBF now has 71bn pieces of data relating to Irish cattle.
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Farm organisations to boycott beef forum
Attracting young people into agriculture is an issue across Europe, according to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed. Speaking at the Muskerry Macra na Feirme event last Friday titled Growing Irish agriculture in an uncertain future in Ballyvourney, the Minister acknowledged that it is a bigger issue in the most marginal farming areas.
Creed outlined how the age profile in dairy is lower because it offers better opportunities to earn a meaningful wage while the same cannot be said in other sectors.
“The age profile recognises the lack of economic opportunity there. If we are to be serious about addressing that issue all of the incentives that are there for young farmers are important but the most important signal nowadays is an adequately funded CAP. That is a signal that says Europe is serious about agriculture in the future. It is tied in to the budget for the CAP but at the moment we are not happy with it.”
Speakers at the Muskerry Macra na Feirme event Growing Irish Agriculture in an uncertain future. Left to right James Healy, national president Macra na Feirme, Michael Doran, chair, ICBF, Brian Denn, IFAC, Noreen Lacey, IFAC, Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, Alan Twomey, chair of Muskerry Macra na Feirme, Pat Dillon, Teagasc, and Alan Jagoe, forum chair.
Almost two-thirds of EU members are in favour of at least maintaining current CAP budget levels. However, Minister Creed cautioned that there are strong signals from certain countries that they are still resistant to budget increases.
“We could stand in splendid isolation shouting for an increase in the budget when the reality is if we can get it at its current level it’s as good as we could get in the current environment and that’s not even certain," he said.
ICBF
The meeting also heard from Michael Doran, chair of ICBF. He gave a brief outline on a current pilot project using DNA for future calf registration. A small number of herds, where all animals are genotyped, are taking part. Using a tissue sample taken at tagging, researchers were able to decipher the dam, sire, sex and breed of the animal using a DNA database.
Doran, a Wexford dairy farmer, also gave an update on the development of the dairy beef index and added that, as of last week, the ICBF now has 71bn pieces of data relating to Irish cattle.
Read more
Farm organisations to boycott beef forum
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