A panel of experts discussed the impacts of succession on Irish farms at the Women & Agriculture conference, which took place on Thursday 23 October at Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Co Sligo.

Chaired by Irish Farmers Journal news editor Amy Forde, the expert panel discussed the impacts of succession on Irish farms and the future of the family farm structure.

Joining Amy was award-winning independent family successor facilitator from the UK Heather Wildman; managing director at Cormac Tagging Ursula Kelly; and rural affairs and investigative journalist at Irish Country Living Jacqueline Hogge.

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Research, analysed by ifac and conducted by Irish Country Living, shows that 70% of farming families surveyed have no formal succession plan in place for their farms.

When asked if they have a succession plan in place, written down and agreed with all, 30% of respondents said yes.

A further 42% stated that they hadn’t anything written down but had discussed their intentions. However, 28% said they did not have a succession plan.

Written down

Commenting on the results, Jacqueline Hogge said: “A succession plan is no use unless it is agreed and written down.”

Heather Wildman said: “we have come a long way”, adding that “at least we are talking about it [succession].

Ursula Kelly talked to conference attendees about her succession journey on her family sheep and suckler farm just outside Tuam, Co Galway.

She bought her parents out of the family agri business, but the family farm is divided up among Ursula and her four other siblings. “Succession doesn’t have to look the same for everybody,” she said.

When asked about the future of farming for women across Ireland, Jacqueline said: “I think the future of farm women is far brighter than what people are led to believe.”

Heather added that she has worked with daughters “desperate” to take over the family farm, but parents think “it’s too difficult” and that the women should be “there with their children”.

Her advice to women wanting to farm, but prevented from taking on the family farm, is to “start on your own”. “Go on and do it,” she said.

Ursula responded by saying that "generations grow when women lead".