At a time when the average income of farmers in Ireland is only 44% of the industrial wage, many farmers are opting to go part-time as it’s the only way they can farm, said Alice Doyle, deputy president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
With a quarter of her four-year term completed – passing “in the blink of an eye” – the first woman to be elected to that level in the organisation’s 69-year history said that generational renewal is a huge issue within the farming community.
“It’s a European problem. Young people are not going into farming, because the income isn’t in it,” Doyle said.
She said that IFA is waiting to see what comes out of the new dialogue group scheduled to report back to the minister in the first quarter of 2025.
The deputy president said that every style of enterprise is suffering from increased input costs, the drop in incomes and the cost of doing business.
Farming at Ballyoughter, Gorey, Co Wexford, alongside husband Tom on their beef and tillage farm, the Carlow native said that IFA is working on those issues alongside other key concerns such as derogation.
“We have to try and get regulation, as it filters down from Europe to Ireland into our system, simplified. Anything new that comes in has to be farmer friendly in how it’s applied. Some schemes are costing farmers money,” she contended.
Farmers are now expected to produce food that is cheap for the consumer, Doyle said.
Alice Doyle
“They are burdened by three layers of bureaucracy at local, national and European level, and are trying to regulate businesses that are susceptible to market change, international trade deals and the weather,” said Doyle..
“We have to get better schemes coming in and have simplification so that farmers can apply easily and get money in their pockets.
“A lot will depend on the new EU agriculture and food commissioner, Christophe Hansen, and what the 100 days he has been given to prepare a vision for the EU agriculture and food sectors will show,” she added.
Environmental schemes shouldn’t be funded out of the basic CAP which was intended for food production, contended Doyle, who previously served as chair of the IFA national farm family and social affairs committee and is also a member of the Teagasc authority.
Concerns about the residential zoned land tax which was introduced as part of the Finance Bill 2021 to activate land for development to increase housing supply, remain unresolved.
A lot of uncertainty also remains with the nature restoration law, with questions as to whether the supply of state lands will run out, she said.
The former school principal and mother of three adults, said she is happily working alongside the national president, Francie Gorman, and the other members of the team.
“It’s very easy to work with them all and they have communicated an understanding of what’s needed. They have also communicated an energy and willingness to try and bring about improvements.
“There is something new every day and we have to keep on top of all the changes. A lot of people don’t realise the amount of information we have coming in every day from Europe.
“I like what I do even though there are days I could pull my hair out. I’m lucky to have the time to devote to the job,” said the deputy president, as she singled out the voluntary workers for particular praise.