Partners the way forward
“In particular, provisions for participation in REPS, animal health and herd number registration should be made compatible with partnership farming,” said IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Michael Murphy.
“Also, the Minister and his officials must deliver on their long-standing commitment to give de-facto partnerships pre-existing the current legislation, many of which involve siblings or parents and children, the same recognition”.
He welcomed the new Master Partnership Agreement launched by IFA.
He said it would save farmers who are forming partnerships a few thousand euros, as well as a great many legal headaches.
Published by Teagasc, it was produced by an expert group drawn from Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture and Food, accountancy, taxation and legal experts.
Its publication was sponsored by ACC Bank, the Irish Co- operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the IFA and Macra na Feirme.
As a reference source, it is aimed at solicitors, accountants and advisers, and
includes ‘specimen’ farm partnership agreements.
The Law Society has recommended its use by solicitors.
Minister Walsh also launched a Revenue Commissioners’ booklet on the taxation issues involved in setting up, operating and dissolving a farm partnership.
And a new dairy partnership finance package was announced by ACC Bank.
Ben Roche of the Dairy Partnership Registration Office at Teagasc, Moorepark said there is increasing interest in farm partnerships, due to the changes in milk quota regulations which enable partnerships between a parent and a son or daughter.
“Experience from other countries, particularly France, has shown that partnerships, either within families or between existing farmers, can achieve huge benefits in terms of improved lifestyle and economies of scale.”
“They can also facilitate taking up off-farm employment or developing new enterprises”, he added.
Partnerships and Farming is available from the Teagasc Publications Office, phone: (01) 6376021, email: pubications@hq.teagasc.ie ; price €10.
