No commonage farmer should be refused access to the GLAS scheme due to the decisions of other shareholders, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association.

The theme of this year’s Teagasc national rural development conference will be ‘Finding off-farm employment’.

The ICSA farmer group has described the focus on finding off-farm employment at this year’s Teagasc Rural Development Conference as evidence of "just how bad things have become in drystock farming".

Older farmers have been advised by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association to consider applying to their local community group for a personal alarm under the Seniors Alert Scheme.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has urged Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to ensure that adequate resources are made available to the gardaí to combat crime in rural areas.

Up to 400 low-income farmers on marginal or hill ground are facing a 100% penalty on their single farm payment, the ICSA claims.