Succession: What does the future of farming look like?
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What are the biggest challenges facing young Irish farmers today?
Now the farming industry in Ireland has evolved significantly over the last number of decades with innovations in technology and science and new generations of energetic farmers driving the change. But despite positive moves, there are still many challenges facing young farmers in this country. Income stability is one that was just mentioned, access to land and finances, climate change, of course. And the question of succession. So to discuss these issues and get a greater sense of what can be done to tackle them, I am joined now by a panel of young farmers from across the country, Louth Sheep farmer Annie McGuinness, Cavan Farmer Sophie Bell, the Kerry Cowboy, Shane O'Sullivan, and mocker President Joseph O'Neill.
Good morning to you all. You're all very welcome, thanks a million for joining us in the RTE tent. I might start by getting a sense of your backgrounds. Annie, you are very welcome now. We you've been on the show before, but this is the first time uh you've been here in person. How long has farming been part of your life?
David, how are ya?
I'm well.
Look, I've been farming from as long as I can remember, alongside my father. Um it's never not been a part of my life, do you know? Um Born and reared in the Coolie Peninsula, heavily populated by sheep, so
Not so many people.
Uhhuh. No, more sheep than people. Um look, absolutely love sheep. Um But yeah, look. I mean I don't really rem remember a time in life when sheep wasn't a huge part of it, so
Yeah, it's
it's bred into you. Okay, Shane,
how about you?
Much the same, yeah. Born into farming and I suppose it was never a decision to get into it. It's just something you're born into. It's part of the life. You know, I always say we never had any holidays growing up or anything, it's just part of the farming life. It's work, work, work and uh it's enjoyable, you know. We've a dairy farm at home and uh we keep sheep as well. Okay, alright,
so you have a bit of a spread. What about you, Sophie?
Yeah, kind of a different route. Um yeah. Like we had a very small farm and I hadn't much experience growing up, but I always had that interest in the animals and the outdoors and I think then during school I was surrounded by other farmers, got to see their farms and got to milk cows and learn the ropes there. So yeah, I think in secondary school whenever I gained more responsibility in life as well. I think that's when the interest started and it grew from there and it really flourished.
And what was it that attracted you about the life?
I think it was the in some ways the freedom and being outdoors and you kinda work for yourself and you're you're not on the phone and not answering emails usually. So that's that's been the draw for it and the rewards in the summertime are really nice too.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
How did each panelist get started in farming and what motivated them?
And Josephine you're lots of emails for you I'm afraid. Uh as macro president I'm sure you're also a secondary school teacher. and you're uh an active farmer.
Yeah, so uh like everyone else around this table, I'm from a farming background. So it's in my blood. I'm from a beef and tillage farm in County Kilkenny. Um I like you said, I'm a home economics and Irish teacher, so even in my classroom, food and where food comes from is a very important element of what I teach and I am the national president of Makers. So I have the so it's the honour and the privilege and the responsibility of representing young farmers around the table when we're talking about CAP and some of the other key challenges that our young farmers are facing. Some
How do you find the time to do it all?
Uh well I'm lucky I'm on leave from my job at the moment, so I can juggle a little bit uh more. Uh but i it's it's a demanding demanding position and as it should be, we uh it's a huge responsibility to I suppose fight for uh the the changes that young farmers need to allow them to uh enjoy farming as a career, but also to have an economically viable future for themselves in rural Ireland.
Now you're all uh very young, but Shane I I guess e even even at that farming must have changed quite a bit since you were a kid.
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