The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris indicated that possible measures for farmers in the upcoming budget may include “some things on the tax side” in relation to generational renewal.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at the national Ploughing Championships, the Fine Gael leader said: “There’s some things on the tax side, around [Minister Heydon’s] work on generational renewal that I’d like to move on.”

He said that the he has had “excellent” pre-budget meetings with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

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The Tánaiste stated that the Government is looking at a “raft of ways” of supporting Irish farmers through budget 2027.

He also acknowledged the challenges of fuel and fertiliser in the farming sector and said he is “conscious” of this and that the Government wants to help on this.

Minister for Agriculture

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon told the Irish Farmers Journal that generational renewal is central to everything that is done by Government in relation to agriculture.

He said he is determined to make progress on the tax side of things in this budget.

“Ultimately, the CAP is a vehicle where we can look at a succession scheme.”

The Minister explained that there is a “myriad” of different challenges affecting generational renewal which have been identified in CAP negotiations like access to land and access to finance.

He said that securing the nitrate derogation for a further three years and introducing the new bovine TB plan are all part of his work to help with generational renewal.

“Helping that conversation that ultimately will happen around kitchen table of every farm family at some stage.”