Succession and the aging profile of farmers remain key issues for the future of the agricultural sector, according to a report from Teagasc.
One of the key focus areas of the report entitled ‘Advancing Innovation, Sustainability and Technical Performance of the Agri-Food Sector in 2024‘ was generation renewal.
The report highlighted that 2024 was a good year for farm incomes, with incomes across all main farming sectors estimated to have increased compared to 2023.
Generation renewal is one of 10 key objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the aim of which is to attract and sustain young and new farmers, and facilitate sustainable business development in rural areas.
A third of Irish farmers are aged over 65, with an average age of 58 years. Six out of 10 farmers surveyed aged over 60 have identified a successor, and 74% of farmers have been the main operator of their farm for 20 years or more.
The report also outlined that in line with other countries, the Irish farming population is ageing, and the proportion of young farmers has been in decline over recent decades, leading to concerns about succession.
64% of the farmers surveyed who did not have a successor in place intend to continue farming over the next five years, with no plans to scale back. Almost 430 registered farm partnership applications were submitted in 2024.
Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that in 2023, just 4.3% of farmers were aged under 35.
EU commissioner on succession
Speaking at the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) annual general meeting (AGM) last Thursday (January 23), the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen said that he is currently working with the European Investment Bank president, Nadia Calvino, on a package worth €3 billion to help tackle generational renewal.
“It is important that we have mandatory support and it needs to be way higher than the ones that we have in direct payment and in investment,” Hansen said.
“Investment will be crucial. I have a package with the EIB president, Nadia Calvino, which will guarantee young farmers get those loans,” he added.