Generational renewal continues to be a hot topic in Irish farming and 2026 looks to be getting off to an informative start, with a webinar on registered farm partnerships offering valuable information on the topic.

Registered farm partnerships (RFP) are a legal arrangement where two or more individuals operate as a single business, sharing profits, decision-making and responsibilities.

Run by Teagasc, an online webinar will be held on Thursday 8 January at 7.30pm, led by collaborative farming specialist Ruth Fennell.

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A step-by-step guide will be offered to those logging in, covering a range of aspects associated with RFP. These include completing a partnership application, changing the registration details of herd number and scheme supports.

Ruth will be joined by her colleague Owen Power from Teagasc’s schemes support unit.

Sue Canny from the farm partnerships office in the Department of Agriculture will also be on hand to offer advice.

Benefits

The benefits of RFP are that it can be used as the first step farmers take when planning their succession. The model offers a way for younger farmers to come into the business and have their role officially recognised at an earlier stage.

In blending experience and knowledge from the older generation with the energy and enthusiasm of younger farmers, RFP can offer a workable solution to many farming families succession concerns.

The Department has over 4,800 partnerships currently registered with its partnerships office, many of which are family partnerships, but not exclusively so.

A partnership agreement - which outlines what each party is bringing to the arrangement, from what land is to be farmed to how the profits will be divided - must be completed and signed, along with an on-farm agreement.

This details how the partnership will work in a practical sense, outlining what each partner is responsible for and their day-to-day duties. If an RFP involves a young farmer, he or she is entitled to a minimum 20% of the profits.

For further information on RFP and details on how to log on to the webinar, click here.