Despite challenges surrounding generational renewal, a group of young farmers encouraged newcomers to join the industry, with the general advice to "just go for it".

The eight young farmers spoke on a panel at the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) annual general meeting (AGM) where they discussed opportunities and difficulties for young farmers.

When asked what advice the panellists would give to someone thinking about getting into farming, the answers were encouraging, with the main advice to get as much hands-on experience as possible.

The farmers also advised those new to the industry to observe what is happening on other farms, ask all potential questions, and be open to new advice from those already farming.

Issues with access to labour was highlighted by one of the farmers, Louise Treacy from Co. Carlow, who works at Leinster Marts and also helps in the running of a mixed farm of tillage and bull beef, with milk contracting happening on the farm as well.

Treacy highlighted "a lack of support" from government to make farming as a full time job "in any way viable". She said that there was a need for more incentives to get young people involved.

This was echoed by Co. Cavan suckler and sheep farmer Katie Cooney, who also said that there is "not really a chance" for someone to start farming from the ground up, unless they always had an interest in the industry.

Cooney said that there is nearly always a need for another stream of income off farm, and said that young people would benefit from a government introduced graduate programme for incentivising newcomers or younger people.

Co. Westmeath, suckler and sheep farmer Aaron McNamara said that he is seeing the current generation of farmers getting older and is hearing from young people that they "don't see a future in farming".

McNamara said that the succession scheme proposed by the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming is "realistic" and would support farmers.

"It not only gives an incentive to young people to get into farming but also gives the lads who have been farming 40 to 60 years a chance to retire," McNamara said.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon also spoke on the night, following the panel discussion.

The minister said that there is "not just one single thing" causing challenges for young farmers, but rather a myriad of issues, many involving income.

"Young people going into farming shouldn't be accepting a lesser quality of life than their peers who they went to school or college with and decided to take on a different career," Minister Heydon said.

"We have a lot of barriers to break down, and I'm really keen we dive into them and hit all the issues, because it's not just about increasing the amount of young farmers that we have and changing that average age of Irish farmers.

"There is also an awful lot of emotion and stress involved in this, and I think we can take a lot of that away. It's palpable that this is one of the biggest issues for farmers right now," Minister Heydon added.

Minister Heydon said that he will "review all pointers" from the generational renewal report when it comes back, and that he will also look into why there are a low number of applicants for incentive schemes through banks and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).