Macra chief urges Government not to turn its back on young farmers

MACRA na Feirme has called on the Government to take advantage of the entrepreneurial spirit of trained young farmers rather than strangling them with cuts and pushing them out of business.

Macra president Michael Gowing said the Government must not turn its back on young farmers who are qualified, willing and able to put in time and effort to establish their enterprises. Increases agreed for agricultural schemes under the last social partnership were eroded by the Government and then schemes were suspended and closed.

Cuts in other areas where significant increases were previously agreed, including the public service, were miniscule compared to agriculture, where the average farm income is “103% reliant on schemes including REPS”.