Young farmers told not to follow parents sheep-like onto land
Mike Brady, managing director of the Cork-based Brady Group, said the surge of interest in agriculture courses had seen many of Ireland’s core agriculture courses soar towards 500 points, but he questions whether or not the sector can create the jobs to match this surge.
“We are in a fashion cycle,” said Mr Brady, a former president of the Agricultural Consultants’ Association. “A few years ago, the sons of farmers were all studying engineering and becoming building contractors; now they are all heading back onto the farm. But what work will they be going into in five years’ time? Agriculture or building? Career guidance counsellors and farming parents need to take a reality check, and let these young people follow their own path.
“I would question where all the jobs are coming from. On farms, some farm managers will be needed, but are these young people being trained up for those type of roles? I am not convinced they are.” Teagasc has reported a surge in demand for its agricultural courses in 2014. Almost 2,000 learners have enrolled in agricultural college further education programmes and Teagasc-linked higher education programmes. Teagasc has also received almost 1,500 applications for its Green Cert courses, around three times the usual level. Teagasc also runs customised short courses for 5,000 or so adult farmers and agri-industry personnel annually.
At the Ploughing Championships, President Michael D Higgins welcomed the surge of interest in farming, but noted also that many young farmers who want to take up farming, and who are fully qualified to do so, cannot gain access to land.
The greatest irritant for Macra na Feirme is that Ireland’s older generation of farmers is too slow to hand over the reins. Macra’s statistics show that only 6% of Irish farmers are under the age of 35, while 51.4% of family farm holders are over 55, and 28.3% over 65.
Mike Brady said companies like Glanbia and Dairygold will probably deliver some jobs to young people currently completing agriculture courses. However, he notes that New Zealand co-op Fonterra has one giant dryer which could dry the whole of Ireland’s milk output and only a handful of people operating it.
“My farm clients often present me with teenagers to advise on their careers. I ask these teenagers what they want to do. They say: ‘I dunno’. I ask them what their parents want them to do, they say: ‘Farming or veterinary’. So I tell them to go out and think about what they want to do and go after it, whether that’s engineering, bar work, journalism or sweeping the floor.”
“The irony is that, in any nightclub five years ago, these same young fellas were afraid to admit to being a farmer’s son. Now, it’s their number one chat-up line.”
