Macra stresses importance of National Reserve

The availability of a fully resourced National Reserve in 2016, and subsequent years is essential for young farmers, according to Macra na Feirme president Sean Finan.

His comments came yesterday as fears grew that the scheme is under threat this year due to lack of funding.

Mr Finan said that the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine will need to examine a reallocation of funding to ensure the future of the scheme is secured should demand result in insufficient funds being available.