Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon is set to speak at the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) annual general meeting (AGM) and conference on Thursday, February 13.

The AGM and annual conference will take place in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

The conference open session will commence at 3:30p.m with Minister Heydon set to speak during the evening session at 7:00p.m.

The theme for the conference is "Survival, Sustainability, and Succession: Securing the Future of Family Farms."

As part of this year’s conference, ICSA has said that it will bring together a dynamic group of young members to share their experiences, hopes, and challenges in farming today.

Under the theme 'The Next Generation: Young Farmers Shaping the Future,' the discussion is set to explore what drives young people to pursue a future in agriculture, the realities of farming in an increasingly regulated and uncertain environment, and what needs to change to secure the sustainability of family farms.

A recent report by Teagasc highlighted that one-third of Irish farmers are aged over 65, with an average age of 58 years. Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that in 2023, just 4.3% of farmers were aged under 35.

Under the programme for government there is a commitment to supporting inter-generational farm succession.

Generational 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.

The Generational Renewal on Farming commission was established by the government in October last year, tasked with assessing all issues relating to generational renewal, and producing a report which is due to be submitted before the end of June 2025.

The commission is aiming to examine the current policy framework, along with available policy tools and supports available to encourage young people into the sector.