Farm progression and access to land in Macra general election manifesto

In its manifesto to political parties and Dáil Éireann election candidates, Macra na Feirme has outlined the key challenges facing young farmers and rural youth, proposing various responses to these issues ahead of the 2016 general election.

Farm progression, viability of the family farm, access to land, investment on farm, access to credit and cashflow, training and skills development, and farm safety are the challenges facing young farmers in 2016, according to Macra.

Accessible schemes for young farmers

The document states that EU and national schemes targeted at young farmers need to be accessible and favourable to all young farmers. Under CAP, the five-year rule has excluded a lot of young farmers who are still at the development stage from accessing schemes.

In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme national reserve, a well-funded reserve is essential to ensure that young farmers who start farming with little or no basic payment can access entitlements. Also, supports in future CAP reforms should be targeted at active farmers instead of all landowners, according to Macra.

Outside of a family farm, there is very little opportunity for a young person to get established in farming. Macra is calling on the political parties to encourage and support land mobility initiatives, ensuring young farmers in new forms of collaborative arrangements are eligible for EU and national schemes and incentives, as is essential to encourage greater access to a career in farming.

Investment needs

According to Macra, a greater focus is needed on supporting productive assets, such as developing grazing infrastructure in schemes such as the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme.

“Ireland does not have an installation scheme grant for young farmers under the Rural Development Programme, putting young Irish farmers at a disadvantage to some of their European colleagues. Grass-measuring equipment and methods should be encouraged and incentivised to help farmers deliver on Food Wise 2025 objectives,” the document states.

Macra is also calling for access to loans for young farmers on favourable conditions through the European Investment Bank fund.

Income volatility

An initiative to help address volatility in farm incomes, Macra believes, would be to provide more financial stability to farmers in a price volatile climate.

“There is justification to introduce a new initiative to alleviate farm income volatility for farmers operating as sole traders. The principle would be the creation of a Government bond/fund to allow farmers deposit surplus profits in good farming years and withdraw reserves in years with poor returns subject to certain limits. On encashment, the value of the bond or funds would be liable for income tax,” the manifesto states.

Access to broadband

Macra also lists the challenges facing rural youth in its manifesto to political parties and Dáil Éireann election candidates.

Access to key infrastructure such as high-speed quality broadband, according to Macra, is having a detrimental effect on rural communities and young entrepreneurs based in rural areas.

The need for positive mental health initiatives, a lack of employment and support services, rural isolation, transport and crime were also listed as challenges for rural youth.

“Youth services that Macra provides are funded by the Youth Services Grant Scheme administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In recent years, this grant has been cut very significantly, making it more and more difficult for Macra to deliver services to rural youth. The next Government needs to increase the investment in youth work through the Youth Services Grant Scheme.

“In order to capture the potential of youth and young farmers as a driver of the growth agenda, Macra is calling for the points in this document to be addressed in the next programme for Government,” the document concludes.