Ireland’s farming industry must find ways to reduce the level of unsociable working hours and define better career pathways for progression if the sector is to attract and retain workers into the future.
That’s according to FRS Co-op, which surveyed 1,200 farm operators across Ireland and found that the majority of people who works on farms do so because they enjoy working outdoors and working with animals.
However, less than 13% of farm operators said working on a farm provides opportunities to progress in their career.
Head of agriculture at FRS Co-op Neil Keane said that the results have illustrated some of the challenges and opportunities facing Irish farming.
“On the one hand, working on a farm can have unsociable hours and many don’t see a clear pathway to career progression.
"On the other hand, there is clearly a large group of people that are attracted to farming as a career for the lifestyle it offers and the opportunity to work outdoors,” he said.
Labour
When asked what the farming industry needs to do to attract new talent, over 50% of farm workers cited the need for higher wages.
This was followed by reducing the number of unsociable work hours and defining clearer pathways for career progression.
When asked what the farming industry needs to do to attract new talent, over 50% of farm workers cited the need for higher wages. \ Donal O'Leary
The survey findings come at a time when Ireland’s farming industry is increasingly reliant on external labour support, with nine out of 10 farms now using external labour to various degrees throughout the year.
Over 80% of farm workers who responded to the survey said Irish farms are better prepared for the increased workloads during the spring calving season following the expansion on farms after the end of EU milk quotas.
Ownership
The survey also revealed that just over 50% of its farm operators do not own their own farm.
Of this cohort, almost 80% said they would like to manage their own farm in the future, suggesting there is potential to attract new entrants to the farming sector.
“This is quite encouraging, as it suggests farming does have the ability to attract new entrants into the sector,” added Keane.
“With the Government’s Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming set to release recommendations later this year and the EU recently announcing it wants to attract over 370,000 new farmers into the sector over the next five years, we need to focus on developing policies that will remove some of the barriers for new entrants who don’t currently have a farm or own their own land.”
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Ireland’s farming industry must find ways to reduce the level of unsociable working hours and define better career pathways for progression if the sector is to attract and retain workers into the future.
That’s according to FRS Co-op, which surveyed 1,200 farm operators across Ireland and found that the majority of people who works on farms do so because they enjoy working outdoors and working with animals.
However, less than 13% of farm operators said working on a farm provides opportunities to progress in their career.
Head of agriculture at FRS Co-op Neil Keane said that the results have illustrated some of the challenges and opportunities facing Irish farming.
“On the one hand, working on a farm can have unsociable hours and many don’t see a clear pathway to career progression.
"On the other hand, there is clearly a large group of people that are attracted to farming as a career for the lifestyle it offers and the opportunity to work outdoors,” he said.
Labour
When asked what the farming industry needs to do to attract new talent, over 50% of farm workers cited the need for higher wages.
This was followed by reducing the number of unsociable work hours and defining clearer pathways for career progression.
When asked what the farming industry needs to do to attract new talent, over 50% of farm workers cited the need for higher wages. \ Donal O'Leary
The survey findings come at a time when Ireland’s farming industry is increasingly reliant on external labour support, with nine out of 10 farms now using external labour to various degrees throughout the year.
Over 80% of farm workers who responded to the survey said Irish farms are better prepared for the increased workloads during the spring calving season following the expansion on farms after the end of EU milk quotas.
Ownership
The survey also revealed that just over 50% of its farm operators do not own their own farm.
Of this cohort, almost 80% said they would like to manage their own farm in the future, suggesting there is potential to attract new entrants to the farming sector.
“This is quite encouraging, as it suggests farming does have the ability to attract new entrants into the sector,” added Keane.
“With the Government’s Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming set to release recommendations later this year and the EU recently announcing it wants to attract over 370,000 new farmers into the sector over the next five years, we need to focus on developing policies that will remove some of the barriers for new entrants who don’t currently have a farm or own their own land.”
Read more
FRS Co-op aims to cut its emissions by 20% by 2030
Those not from farms key to young farmer challenge – FRS
Students gearing up for Agricultural Colleges Challenges Day in Clonakilty
87% of farmers concerned about their wellbeing
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