Macra has slammed the instruction for the Department of Agriculture to identify €26m in cuts ahead of Budget 2027, to be allocated to the Department of Education.

Macra has described the proposal as a complete betrayal of young farmers and rural Ireland, as it exposes a glaring contradiction in Government policy, with young farmers repeatedly being told they are central to Ireland’s climate ambitions, food security and rural development, while supports are being targeted for cuts.

“As an educator, I understand the importance of funding the sector. However, it is reprehensible that agriculture and young farmers in particular will be sacrificed in favour of the Department of Education,” Macra president Josephine O’Neill stated.

ADVERTISEMENT

The organisation is warning that any reduction in funding would inevitably undermine critical supports for young farmers, including TAMS, installation aid, succession measures, environmental schemes and farm viability supports.

'Final nail in the coffin'

“We have consistently called for financial supports for generational renewal. Only last year, we demanded the delivery of the report from the commission on generation renewal,” O’Neill outlined.

“We welcomed its eventual delivery, but, since then - nothing. No action, no supports, just another report gathering dust on a shelf. And now budgetary cuts in the Department of Agriculture will be the final nail in the coffin.

“Whatever hope we had for the delivery of young farmer supports has now been dealt a fatal blow thanks to these cuts.

“This is another kick in the teeth for young farmers - how can we support and encourage the future of farming when our Government continues to fail young farmers.”

Macra also warned that agriculture cannot continue to be treated as an easy target for budget cuts, especially given the ongoing uncertainty around CAP funding, concern over Mercosur and increasing cost pressures across the sector.

Macra is now calling on Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Government to publicly reject any cuts to the Department of Agriculture budget and instead commit to increased investment in young farmers, generational renewal and rural Ireland ahead of Budget 2027.