European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan has said without measures for generational renewal, member states will not get approval for their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans.

Addressing young farmers at the Macra na Feirme national conference, Commissioner Hogan said with just 6% of farmers under the age of 40 generational renewal needed to be part of the package.

He said more could be done for young farmers by providing things such as installation aid and low-interest loans. He added he would like to see two and a half to three times more funding provided for young farmers under Pillar 1 supports.

He stressed it was up to bodies like Macra to ensure appropriate supports were put in place as part of the next CAP. He pointed out that to ensure generational renewal happened it meant supporting both young and retiring farmers.

He also said these supports had to be provided in view of additional pressures on the CAP budget to deliver public goods.

Climate change

Sustainability was one such public good. For many people, sustainable farming means tackling climate change and Commissioner Hogan said he wanted farmers to be viewed as part of the solution and not the problem.

Ignoring climate change would be “shooting yourself in both feet”, he warned.

Macra taught Commissioner to 'talk up and then shut up’

Young farmer incentives must be part of CAP package – Hogan

Young farmers attending the Macra na Feirme national conference heard from Phil Hogan on encouraging generational renewal, as well as representatives from Glanbia and Bord Bia.