Need to attract young farmers

A COUNTY farming leader has warned of the need to sustain the 2007 improvement in farm incomes, if the industry is to attract enough young people.

Martin Heenan, chairman of the Limerick County ICMSA Executive, was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Limerick County Executive at Adare. He said there has been a haemorrhage of young people out of farming.

“It is terrible to see farmers’ sons driving dumpers and diggers on sites because they feel that they can get a better living than on the land. Many of them have so much ability, but they don’t see a future in farming,” he said.