The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) met with both Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minster for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers this week ahead of Budget 2026.

IFA president Francie Gorman led a delegation to the pre-budget meeting which focused expenditure and taxation measures, and what they can do to offset the cost of doing business.

“On the expenditure side, we highlighted the need for additional support for vulnerable sectors - in particular tillage - an increased TAMS budget and ringfenced funding for agriculture from the infrastructure, climate and nature fund,” he said.

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Tillage

Gorman said the tillage sector is in a perilous situation, with morale among growers at an all-time low.

“The stated aim of the Department of Agriculture is to have more ground in crops. Unless there is a package in the October budget, this will not happen.

“The overall budget for TAMS has to increase to meet the demand that exists across a range of sectors.

“Everybody acknowledges that inflation is running far ahead of the reference costs. This has to be adjusted and a mechanism developed that tracks the rising price of materials,” he said.

The IFA president added the potential for renewable energy from farms has to be harnessed through the infrastructure, climate and nature fund.

“Farmers will need support to deliver the climate action-related infrastructure. Certainty is needed by ring fencing funding that will allow farmers to embark on projects that will bring about emission reductions and other environmental benefits,” he said.

Taxation

On the taxation side, the IFA said its priorities are the renewal of existing tax reliefs, a permanent exemption for actively farmed land from the residential zoned land tax (RZLT).

“The RZLT has hung over farmers for too long. It is time for a permanent exemption for those farmers who wish to continue to farm their land without the prospect of a large tax bill facing them,” he said.

An agricultural relief tax relief to promote generational renewal and the forgotten farmer scheme were also addressed in the meeting.

“We are clear that this should be available to farm families who wish to hand on their farm in a way that works for both generations.”

“A more ambitious Long Established Young Farmer scheme has to be delivered that caters for all eligible farmers, including those starting out in 2008 and thereafter.

“The support must be at least equivalent to what they would have received under the installation aid,” he stated.