“The latest client data from my Department does suggest that, finally, we now have more farmers under the age of 35 than over the age of 80,” Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said. “While this represents progress, there is obviously a lot more to be done.”

Creed made the statement in response to a parliamentary question from Niamh Smyth, asking what the Department is doing to address “farmer burnout”.

He added that the Succession Farm Partnership Scheme will be launched “shortly”. This scheme will provide for a €25,000 tax credit over five years to assist with the transfer of farms within a partnership structure.

Department initiatives introduced to address farmer burnout:

  • Partnership incentives: establishing a register of farm partnerships, support for establishment costs and addressing administration barriers to using joint names.

  • Tax incentives: encourage early farm transfer, long-term leasing and partnership arrangements.

    “As a result of these efforts, we are starting to see more young people taking over farms, whether through family transfers, family and non-family partnership arrangements, and other collaborative arrangements,” Creed said. We need “arrangements that work for both the older farmer and the new generation”.

    What about you? Take our poll below:

    Read more

    Labour shortage a threat to farm safety

    McConalogue calls for young farmer criteria to be changed