‘Tax concerns put pressure on farms’

DAIRY and beef farmer Anne Keohane believes a likely shift to view farmland as a capital asset for taxation purposes is placing undue pressure on the family farm.

“Average farm incomes last year were €14,000 to €15,000,” said Ms Keohane, a West Cork-based farmer and chairwoman of the IFA in Cork.

“How could you expect a young person to come into farming if they know they’re starting with a €250,000 tax bill? Farm land is only an asset if you’re selling it.