John Fitzgerald and his son Shane milk 180 cows in partnership at Kilmagemogue, Portlaw, Co Waterford. They have had no rain in over a month in 2018 and grass growth dropped to below 20kg per day. \ Donal O'Leary
ADVERTISEMENT
Shane Fitzgerald farms in partnership with his father John on a dairy farm in Waterford where they milk 180 cows.
Having signed up to the Young Farmers Scheme (YFS) in 2015, he has reached the five-year payment limit and said its loss will be “a big hit”.
“There’s less money available and it stifles progression,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal. “I’m not even talking about expansion, but just for things like land improvement or in relation to the environment or planting hedgerows.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Shane and his father have also reached the ceiling on the TAMS grant and he said he’d be hopeful some flexibility could be introduced in this area.
“I’ve only just turned 30 so I have a few years in the young farmer category. I’m involved in Macra na Feirme and I know a few other lads who have been impacted in other sectors too.”
He also pointed out that the number of new entrants was falling at such a rate that it did not make up for the number of young farmers being cut off from payments this year.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Shane Fitzgerald farms in partnership with his father John on a dairy farm in Waterford where they milk 180 cows.
Having signed up to the Young Farmers Scheme (YFS) in 2015, he has reached the five-year payment limit and said its loss will be “a big hit”.
“There’s less money available and it stifles progression,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal. “I’m not even talking about expansion, but just for things like land improvement or in relation to the environment or planting hedgerows.”
Shane and his father have also reached the ceiling on the TAMS grant and he said he’d be hopeful some flexibility could be introduced in this area.
“I’ve only just turned 30 so I have a few years in the young farmer category. I’m involved in Macra na Feirme and I know a few other lads who have been impacted in other sectors too.”
He also pointed out that the number of new entrants was falling at such a rate that it did not make up for the number of young farmers being cut off from payments this year.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS