As 2016 draws to a close, this is an opportune time to reflect on some of the work and achievements of Macra na Feirme and its agri-affairs committees over the last year. We also outline the plans, challenges and opportunities for young farmers in 2017.

Land mobility

The Land Mobility Service, run by Austin Finn and Conor Carty, addresses the issue of access to land by providing opportunities to young farmers who want to establish a career in farming through collaborative agreements such as a long-term lease, partnership or share-farming. We are at the end of the initial three-year pilot phase which was supported by the FBD Trust, as well as Aurivo, Dairygold, Glanbia and the Department of Agriculture. Over 300 arrangements are in place and over 500 clients are looking for opportunities. We will work with all stakeholders to roll out a nationwide Land Mobility Service in 2017.

Young farmer reliefs

Macra na Feirme successfully lobbied for the rollover of stock relief and stamp duty relief in the recent budget.

Farm succession partnership

Macra na Feirme lobbied for the succession partnership, which was recently launched. It’s worth €25,000 in a tax credit over five years, with the transfer of the farm having to take place within 10 years. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that existing registered partnerships will be accommodated once a succession plan is put in place.

Agricultural education

Macra na Feirme continues to lobby for additional resources for Teagasc to recruit more teachers to ensure access to education for all young farmers. We are engaging with Teagasc on the strategic vision project for agricultural education.

Access to affordable credit

We welcome the low-interest loan scheme announced in the budget. Macra na Feirme is calling for overdrafts restructured into term loans to be included in the new scheme. We continue to lobby and are working with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to explore future credit lines at affordable rates for young farmers.

‘Older young farmer’ issue

Macra na Feirme supports the plight of the “older young farmers” outside the five-year rule who have no or very low SFP entitlements. The organisation is calling for the Government to honour its commitment to make a submission to Brussels on this issue. Macra is calling for the New Entrant Parent Partnership farmers to be included as a category in this submission.

Young farmer National Reserve

Macra na Feirme continues to lobby for a 2017 National Reserve and disagrees with the stop-start nature of young farmer schemes. We are proposing that a budget is formed by distributing unused funds in the Young Farmer Top-up Scheme to all farmers and recoup the same funds to form a 2017 National Reserve fund to complement the funds created from unused entitlements and clawback from the sale of entitlements.

TAMS II

Macra na Feirme is developing a proposal for presentation to Minister Creed in early 2017. We are proposing an amendment to the Rural Development Programme. Macra na Feirme will call for grazing infrastructure such as farm roadways, water infrastructure and underpasses be included in TAMS II. This infrastructure will aid grass utilisation, farm development, improve efficiency and farm profitability.

Master of agri-skills and informal training opportunities

The Macra na Feirme young farmer Skillnet programme is providing wonderful informal training opportunities and continued professional development to young farmers under three main headings: business, technical and personal. The master of agri-skills programme has been developed and will be awarded to young farmers who complete a certain number of training modules.

Sheep welfare

Macra na Feirme has lobbied the Minister and Department of Agriculture officials, who have confirmed that young farmer new entrants to sheep in 2016 will be facilitated in the new sheep scheme.

EU dairy package top-up

Macra na Feirme lobbied for and secured a top-up of €1,000 for young dairy farmers on top of the flat-rate payment to all dairy farmers, resulting in 1,400 young dairy farmers receiving this top-up in March 2015.

CAP

Macra na Feirme will begin the process of developing a CAP policy post-2020 by holding a series of CAP consultation meetings in the new year to get the views of young farmers to assist the development of Macra’s CAP post-2020 policy.

Income volatility

Macra na Feirme continues to lobby for an income volatility bond to be put in place where in a year of good commodity prices money can be paid into the bond and drawn down and pay the tax liability in a year of poor prices.

Farm safety

Our Safe Agri Skills card, in partnership with ABP, was launched at the Ploughing. Participants who complete farm safety training modules receive the card.

Forums and committees

Macra represents the views of young farmers at all the stakeholder forums including beef, dairy and tillage and the Farmers’ Charter of Rights committee, as well as many other groups and bodies.

European involvement

Macra na Feirme is an active member of CEJA (the European Council of Young Farmers), representing Irish young farmers at an EU level. IFAC Accountants support Macra’s CEJA involvement. An active involvement in CEJA resulted in Macra na Feirme securing six expert seats on civil dialogue groups in Brussels.

On behalf of Macra na Feirme and young farmers, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed and the Department itself, our sponsors, and all the agencies and organisations we work with for their support to Macra na Feirme and young farmers in 2016. I would also like to thank all the Macra na Feirme staff for their work but, in particular, Denis Duggan, CEO; Derrie Dillon, agri affairs manager; and Paul Smith, agri policy officer.

Wishing you all a happy new year.