Agricultural Affairs Committee review

Macra’s Agricultural Affairs Committee has worked hard during an eventful year to continue to bring the young farmer agenda on to the mainstream agri-policy arena. Land mobility, agri tax review, CAP schemes, budget 2015, producer organisations and the beef forum were some of the items discussed by the committee and policy documents developed to ensure young farmers’ concerns were addressed. On CAP, the SFP National Reserve, young farmer top-up and the 60% Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme required various consultations and meetings with the Department of Agriculture, Minister Simon Coveney and other stakeholders.

A very successful agricultural conference – Young Farmers the New Environmentalists – debated a very important and sometimes contentious topic, with RTÉ’s George Lee covering the entire event.

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Macra teamed up with IFAC – Macra’s partner for young farmer development groups in Ireland and Europe – to deliver a very successful farm planning and farm taxation programme.

ICOS and Teagasc Moorepark delivered the young farmer dairy director programme and Dawn Meats rolled out a series of live to dead educational factory tours.

Macra’s young farmer development groups are busy carrying out their plans for the year with many information events hosted by groups across the country.

In December, the Land Mobility Service launched its first annual report. Finally, at European level, Macra has representation on various EU agricultural civil dialogue groups, is a very active member in CEJA (the European Young Farmers Council) and has held discussions with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and Irish MEPs.

Sean Coughlan, chairman of Macra’s Agricultural Affairs Committee