The next Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will have no shortage of priorities awaiting decisions or action before they are presented with the Seal of Office from President Michael D. Higgins.

From the nitrates derogation to the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to succession and of course the potential impact of the Mercosur Trade Deal, there are major challenges on the immediate horizon for Irish agriculture.

This means that the new minister will be under pressure from day one as farmers wait to see if the next coalition Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government supported by the Regional Independent Group will deliver on their election promises.

The coalition's new 157 page draft programme for government, published yesterday (Wednesday, January 15) sets out a number of significant pledges to farm families and the agriculture sector including:

Protecting important farm supports;
Fighting for a strong CAP;
Supporting inter-generational farm succession;
Working to secure the retention of the nitrates derogation;
Reviewing and updating the National TB 2030 Eradication Strategy;
Defending Irish interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.

It will fall to the next agriculture minister to take a lead role in ensuring these pledges become a reality and represent the best interests of Irish agriculture not just around the cabinet table but also in Europe and on the international stage.

Agriland wants to know who you would like to see get the job of agriculture minister and who else you believe should get a ministerial role in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This survey is now closed.