Co-ops highlight share farming as option to tackle ageing farm profile

Share farming could provide a practical solution to Ireland’s ageing farm demographic by allowing older farmers to remain involved while younger farmers share the workload, decision-making and returns, Lakeland Dairies has said.

The co-op said it is focused on supporting farmers across all areas of their businesses, including succession planning. Within its supplier base, 11% of farmers are under 35, while a similar proportion are over 65.

“A recent survey of our farmers shows that many are already actively engaged in succession planning and generational renewal, which is positive,” a Lakeland spokesperson said. Lakeland also runs a young farmer programme supporting suppliers as they develop their businesses, with a focus on improving on-farm efficiencies, financial performance and skills development.

Tirlán launched a €15m generational renewal programme in October 2025 to support succession.

New entrants can receive a 2c/l payment on all milk supplied for the first three years, while family successors can access 2c/l milk pre-payment cashflow support for two years, repayable in years four and five.

The programme also includes a dairy feed rebate, dairy development programme, free herd health and disease screening, and access to a milk solids growth advisor club.

Tirlán said it also supports retiring suppliers through continued co-op membership and partnerships such as the land mobility service.

The co-op is an active partner in the national RAISE project, a three-year initiative focused on supporting generational renewal. The project aims to develop practical solutions to succession challenges by encouraging partnerships between experienced farmers preparing to transition and younger farmers seeking opportunities, including through share farming.

Kinisla launched its future focused dairying programme earlier this year which aims to examine generational renewal from a different perspective and challenge poor perceptions of farming as a career.

Participants can receive 0.1c/l for engaging with one of six options under the themes of perception, people and performance.

The co-op said it does not promote one farming model but encourages farmers to consider all options, including share farming.