Short-term land rental ‘a barrier to the progression of Irish agriculture’

Young farmers are being kept at arm’s length from meaningful entry into agriculture by the practice of short-term land rental, said Macra na Feirme president Kieran O’Dowd.

Mr O’Dowd has told the Oireachtas agriculture committee that young farmers are being denied the chance to plan from one year to the next due to widespread practice of short-term land rental, also known as ‘conacre’.

The committee is conducting an ongoing review into tax issues relating to agriculture.