Last week, a Macra delegation led by president Seán Finan, Derrie Dillon, acting CEO, and Thomas Duffy, vice-chair of the agricultural affairs committee, attended a two-day CEJA Assembly in Brussels.

Speaking at the meeting, Seán Finan said: “The CAP needs to reward productive, efficient farmers who are growing and developing their businesses as the current historical model is not fit for purpose.”

On the definition of a young farmer, Finan continued: “The five-year rule is a significant issue in Ireland as it creates two tiers of young farmers and this needs to be reviewed in the context of any discussions on CAP.”

Dr Hans Harald Jahn, head of agribusiness and rural development with the European Investment Bank (EIB), outlined that the EIB is open for business to national banks to make credit lines available for farmers, which will address their working capital needs on competitive and flexible terms.

Finan called for “greater ambition and innovative approaches to liquidity issues in farming’’.

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan spoke about many issues including the EU aid package.

New measures

Finan said: “Any new measures that are introduced under the EU aid package at national level should be co-funded, innovative, young farmer-proofed and contain a young farmer top-up similar to previous packages and the needs of other young farmers in other sectors outside of dairying should not be ignored either.”

In terms of innovation, ringfencing a portion of the package for measures will drive efficiency and long-term strategic change at farm level such as incentivising farmers to improve grazing infrastructure which will pay dividends for a farmer’s cost base over time.

  • Macra na Feirme’s work at a European level on behalf of Irish young farmers is supported by IFAC Accountants.