A West Clare suckler farmer says farming organisations are ‘crying out’ to the Agriculture Minister for support over generational renewal.
It follows a new IFAC report that shows two in five farmers don’t have a formal succession plan in place.
The Irish Farm Report 2026 indicates that alongside the lack of a succession plan, 40% of farmers also don’t have a will.
65% of farmers surveyed by IFAC are also unaware of the existence of the availability of the farm succession grant.
In Clare the average age of a farmer is 61, with many older farmers reluctant to ask younger family members to move home to take control of the farm.
Solicitor with Cahir & Co. Solicitors in Ennis, Avril Collentine, says fearmongering often results in farmers procrastinating when taking steps to implement a succession plan.
Concerns have been raised that if the Merusor deal comes into effect, it presents yet another turn off for young people looking to get into farming.
According to the IFAC report, 1 in 8 farmers say their children have no interest in the business at all, while one in 20 farmers are aged 35 or younger, down from one in 15 just a few years ago.
Clare Macra member, Andrew Naughton, claims there’s been no support from Government on the matter which would make the profession more attractive.
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