‘It is a very big conundrum – who is going to be farming our land in 20 years’ time?’
Around half of cattle farms have an off-farm income, according to the newly launched National Farm Survey, while 36pc of all farm households are in receipt of a pension – highlighting the ageing farming population and the challenge of generational renewal
Teagasc experts Trevor Donnellan, John Lennon, Kevin Hanrahan, Prof Frank O’Mara (director), Brian Moran and Emma Dillon at the launch of the National Farm Survey
There are lots of farms where there won’t be a successor, according to Teagasc director Frank O’Mara, as generational renewal is a “very challenging” issue.
Speaking at the National Farm Survey launch yesterday, he said we need to look and see if there are other pathways into farming – not just leasing the farm – for current non-landowners. “But it is a very big conundrum: who is going to be farming our land in 20 years’ time?”
