Irish farms may be left without a next generation to work them after a study showed there was no successor primed to take over in almost half of all holdings.

Ireland’s dairy expansion goals would be hugely boosted if more co-ops adopted the active farmer-owned shareholding model used by Carbery, according to an agri-business consultant.

Sheep farmers are on course to lead the way in Irish farming expansion.

MOST farmers are happy with the performance of Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan, according to a survey published yesterday.