Bedtime reading is increasingly becoming more worrying for farmers these days. Documents such as Farm to Fork and Biodiversity have proven to be a controversial in farming communities.

Proposals around significant drops in fertiliser and plant products, along with ideas around preventing farming on some protected land, bring a set of challenges to current models of farming.

Locally, the publication of the programme of government listed its own set of changes. Regardless of the next steps, it is clear that the farming of the future will have to operate in a very different political environment.

Some of the ideas proposed have been deemed inappropriate for rural populations coming from an urban-based approach. Beyond the headlines of herd reductions and electric cars, there may be spaces for agreement along with spaces of conflict.

Understandably, these documents are significantly a response to the so-called “green wave” we witnessed mostly in continental Europe with significant gains in MEP elections and a series of protests that made the name “Greta” a household one.

Those political gains will not be a flash in the pan, as more parties look to adopt Green ideas to chase the lucrative urban votes. This may pose more challenges for Irish farmers and rural communities through the changes in perception in key markets, along with the significance of populist policy in European policymaking.

The challenges are abundant with these changes, but the question must now turn to how to make these changes work for farmers. It is a giant task, no doubt, but the alternative of delaying the inevitable is simply no longer realistic.

The first opportunity is one of broad agreement between both environmental and farm groups that the current land eligibility system used for CAP is not fit for purpose.

Farmers have long expressed frustration with having to remove landscape features due to the strict guidelines set by the EU. This frustration is often down to the loss of income when farmers can see the benefit to the environment. This issue isn’t a simple one. However, any changes must prevent land abandonment or increase the rate of armchair farmers. Handled well, both farmers and biodiversity could benefit though. These must be key areas for the next CAP.

Environmental scheme

The second opportunity is around extending the success for both farmers and biodiversity from our Locally Led Environmental scheme which take a results-based approach.

Farmers have long resented the idea that they are ignorant to the environment on the levels of specific requirements. No farmer is happy to see an inspector coming with a tape measure, to be told that he has coppiced a hedgerow 30cm rather than 15cm. I’m far from sure the inspector appreciates it either.

Results-based is a fundamental change which gives the power back to the farmer and empowers them to learn what can work for themselves and for biodiversity.

This approach appeared numerous times in the programme for government.

Transport emissions

The third place for some hope is around reducing transport emissions, a major concern for rural Ireland, which is dependent on private car use.

However, the rural love affair with cars need not end to achieve a reduction in transport emissions.

Reducing the monotonous commute of many to work delivers not only an improvement in environmental impact but also in the quality of life.

A focus away from the need to travel for work towards flexibility, including incentives to work from home for businesses, would deliver much for rural Ireland.

This all comes back, however, to the constant thorn in the side for rural businesses of poor rural broadband.

Both tax incentives and working from home were mentioned in the programme for government along with some commitment on rural broadband. However, far higher investment will be needed.

There are many other key issues for rural young people and young farmers which could use the benefit of a rethink in policy along with those areas where urban versus rural policies may be confused with environmental versus rural policies.