The issue of succession and partnerships has taken a positive turn in recent years, according to Owen O’Driscoll, the newly elected president of the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA).

“When a father and son come in, it’s the elephant in the room. And then you bring it up and everything is laid out on the table.

“The financial rewards around having partnerships have improved things greatly as well. The succession tax credits will be another catalyst.”

O’Driscoll is also convinced, through conversations he has had with the Department, that IT issues which previously delayed the rollout of payments to farmers in partnerships will be solved this year.

Between the 200 members of the ACA, farm advisory services are provided to 50,000 farmers nationally, O’Driscoll said.

The west Cork-based agricultural adviser was elected as president of the ACA at its AGM this year, taking over from Laura Johnston.

Members also voted to hire a general secretary for the first time in the organisation’s 40 years, with the aim of progressing the ACA. “My aim is to develop a national brand for the ACA and re-structure it to have regional meetings,” O’Driscoll told the Irish Farmers Journal. At the moment, the 10-member council meets once a month in Portlaoise.

Key role

“Phil Hogan has said that advisory will play a key role in the delivery of the next CAP. We want to liaise with farm organisations and policymakers to design a sustainable CAP 2020 for farmers. Our strategy is to deliver for farmers and farm incomes.”

The ACA welcomes Hogan’s simplification of the CAP, but says that the successful yellow card system from the BPS could be extended to other schemes.

“Preliminary checks would be good in other schemes like TAMS,” O’Driscoll said.

The ACA president position is a voluntary role for two years. O’Driscoll will be juggling it with his own advisory service which has offices in Skibbereen and Kenmare, employing 10 staff. He also runs a beef and sheep farm with his father.