Young farmers angry with exit plan - rails Laois farming leader

The Laois man who leads the organisation that represents young people in agriculture has hit out at a plan that cuts the amount of land available for dairy farming.

John Keane, Marca President, issued a statement afer the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue confirmed to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Climate Action that he would introduce an exit scheme for dairy farmers in 2024. 

"Young farmers across the country are extremely angry and disappointed that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are actively pursuing a land exit scheme for dairy farmers. 

"Under the proposals seen by Macra the land that would enter this scheme would no longer be available for use to breed animals. 

"This will undoubtedly reduce the stock of land available for farmers who wish to rear breeding animals, it will further increase the price of land paid for lease and sale.  It will put pressure on our tillage sector to compete for land and negatively affect the government's targets to increase the tillage area in Ireland," said the Errill native. 

Mr Keane added that with less than 6% of active farmers under 35 the Minister needs to pursue a succession policy in farming and not an exit policy.

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He argued that this measure if proceeded with in a manner that is excluding the future of farming in Ireland will further reduce the amount of young farmers who are the future of both the agricultural industry and food production in Ireland.

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Mr Keane congratulated his successor, Elaine Houlihan from Limerick who will take over in May at the AGM.