A group calling themselves The Forgotten Farmer will host an information night on 6 February in Athlone, to raise awareness on the issue of “old young” farmers. “Old young” farmers are those under 40 who have been farming full-time for five years. Such farmers are unable to get access to the national reserve and are excluded from getting the 25% Basic Payment Scheme top-up.

Kenneth O’Brien from Glenamaddy, Galway, is one such farmer and he has started the group.

Following an article in the Irish Farmers Journal last month, O’Brien received some 400 calls from interested farmers.

“I was totally blown away by the amount of calls that I got, they came from all over the country,” O’Brien said.

“I was getting calls from Waterford, Wexford, Roscommon, Cavan, everywhere. It just shows the huge amount of people who are affected by this,” O’Brien added.

O’Brien, who is a suckler and sheep farmer, said there is an onus on the Government to look after farmers like those in his situation.

“We’re farming as well as anyone. We’re making our living from the land and yet we’re treated as second-class citizens. Only 6% of farmers are under 35, we have to make sure that there’s a future for us and that we are able to grow,” he added.

Speaking at the joint Oireachtas Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said negotiations are ongoing with the European Commission regarding the exact definition of an “old young” farmer, but that he remains hopeful of a successful outcome.

The meeting will take place in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, on Friday 6 February at 8pm.

For further information on the meeting, Kenneth O’Brien can be contacted on 086-0740024 or through www.facebook.com/theforgotten farmer.