'2028 is too late' – Macra President demands action on young farmer supports

Macra President Josephine O’Neill has called for urgent action on young farmer supports following an IFA AGM exchange with the Minister for Agriculture. 

Ms O’Neill called for immediate and decisive action to support young farmers, warning that waiting until CAP 2028 is too late given the current level of uncertainty facing the sector.

Speaking at the IFA AGM in the Irish Farm Centre, Ms O’Neill questioned the Minister for Agriculture on what concrete measures his Department plans to introduce in the short term to support young farmers and ensure farming remains a viable and attractive career.

Raising concerns around the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Mercosur and the stark statistics on generational renewal, she asked: “Considering the huge uncertainty surrounding Mercosur and the statistics of young farmers, waiting until CAP 2028 is too late to commit to young farmers. 

"So what do you and your Department propose in the immediate future to support young farmers and ensure that farming is a viable and attractive career for future farmers?” 

 In response, the Minister stated that “taxation is our single greatest support to generational renewal". 

While acknowledging the role taxation measures can play, Ms O’Neill said that taxation alone is not enough to address the scale of the challenge facing generational renewal in Irish farming.

“Taxation supports are important, but they cannot be the only answer. We need far more work to normalise conversations around succession at farm level and to actively encourage and support families to plan for the future,” she said.

She emphasised that the recommendations already made by the Commission on Generational Renewal must be accelerated and implemented well before 2028.

“The tools, research and recommendations already exist. What is missing is urgency. Young farmers need certainty, confidence and visible commitment now — not in three or four years’ time,” she added.

She concluded by stressing that without immediate action, Ireland risks losing an entire generation of potential farmers.

“If we are serious about food security, rural vitality and the future of farming, then generational renewal must move from rhetoric to action. Waiting until the next CAP risks leaving young farmers behind.”