Future bright for farmers with management skills
Farm management training for the era following 2015, when the ending of EU milk quotas will transform Irish farming, will be the theme of the Irish Farm Managers Association (IFMA) conference in April.
Graduates of the Farm Apprenticeship Scheme set up the association in 1979, and its members include some of the country’s most successful farmers.
IFMA secretary John Fitzgerald, who manages his own dairy farm at Mallow, Co Cork, says the future is bright for those with farm management qualifications, if the Government removes obstacles in their path.
* How many non-owner farm managers in Ireland?
>>Probably about 200. About 1,000 qualified through the Farm Apprenticeship Scheme since 1964, but many have ended up owning their own farms or working elsewhere in agri-business.
The Farm Apprenticeship Scheme graduates have been in demand worldwide due to their reputation for competence.
*What is the rough breakdown of these farming situations, between family farms where labour is hired in, institutions, investment properties, etc.
>>Of the 200 or so, maybe about half manage institutional farms or investment properties.
The other half work as farm managers in conjunction with farm owners.
For example, in my own case, I now manage my own farm in Mallow, Co Cork.
Our chairman, Jim Tracey, is the manager of the Rockwell College farm, and was one of the early Farm Apprenticeship Scheme graduates.
Ger Twomey, our president, manages the Lismore Castle farm.
*Are managers mostly on dairy farms? What is the breakdown per farm enterprise?
>> Managers are mostly in dairying, and that is where most of the opportunity seems to lie for young people getting into farm management.
The age profile in Irish farming, with more aged over 75 than under 35, is of great concern, but it opens the door to people with farm management qualifications, if proper opportunities are put in place for them to get involved with farm owners in some kind of partnerships.
*How does the Irish Farm Managers Association serve its members?
>>We lobby on issues like training and improving the opportunities for farm managers. We organise conferences like our Farm Management Training Post 2015 conference which will be in Kildalton Agriculture College on Thursday, April 18.
*Getting competent young people into farm management is a big issue for you. What is the situation?
>>We would like to see a designated Teagasc unit like the old Farm Apprenticeship Scheme running farm manager training.
We support longer-term practical courses, rather than short-term courses with little practical training.
In this respect, the new Level 7 Teagasc/UCD training programme for professional dairy farm managers is going well. It includes a two-year internship programme on the most progressive dairy farms here and overseas, to develop managerial expertise and capacity.
Course content also includes business know-how, financial and productivity indicators, technical knowledge, quality assurance, bio-security, health and safety.
Up to now, financial and planning skills have been deficient in Irish farming.
Forward planning is vital, both inside and outside the farm gate.
The government has an obligation to provide opportunity for young people in farming, who are vital for the success of the Food Harvest 2020 plan.
To achieve this, tax legislation needs to be addressed, and the single farm payment rules.
I think the crutch of the single farm payment will be taken away slowly from Irish farmers.
But in the meantime, SFP rules get in the way of a progressive farmer who is “maxed out” on his own land, and is prevented from renting land from an property next door which is under-utilised because the owner has to adhere to certain conditions in order to draw his SFP.
The system has to be structured in favour of young, progressive farmers willing to maximise our national resources.
Another obstacle to young people entering farming is that the DVO will not allow a second herd number, where a young farmer might want to bring his cows with him, if he joins an established dairy operation in a partnership.
It would be a help also if chattel mortgages, using livestock as security against borrowings, could be restored.
*What’s your advice to young people interested in farm management?
>>Get the best education possible. A year in ag college isn’t enough, go for the top Level 7 qualification.
*What are the details of your upcoming conference on farm management training?
>>It’s at Kildalton Agriculture College on Thursday, Apr 18, chaired by Moorepark head of dairy research Dr Pat Dillon.
At 1.45pm, Andrew Doyle, TD, will open the conference.
At 2.15pm, we have solicitor and tax consultant Aishling Meehan, a Nuffield scholar, she specialises in the legislation surrounding access to land.
At 3pm, Seamus Quigley (also a Nuffield scholar) will discuss the benefits of long- term leasing.
At 3.45 pm, Kevin Twomey, also a Nuffield scholar and chairman of the Discussion Groups of Ireland, will speak on successful dairy expansion.
