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Land Mobility and Succession in Ireland – facts & proposals. Edmond Connolly CEO, Macra na Feirme – the young farmers of Ireland 27 th February 2013. Outline of Presentation. The structure of farming in Ireland The age profile of Irish farmers Study findings Recommendations Action
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Land Mobility and Succession in Ireland – facts & proposals Edmond Connolly CEO, Macra na Feirme – the young farmers of Ireland 27th February 2013
Outline of Presentation • The structure of farming in Ireland • The age profile of Irish farmers • Study findings • Recommendations • Action • Conclusions
Structure of Irish farming • 139,860 farms of which 99.8% were family farms, 54% farming as sole occupation. • Average labour input per farm is 1.2 labour units. • Average farm size 34 hectares. • Beef and diary predominantly, some sheep, pigs & poultry. • 10% of land in crop production.
Age profile of Irish farmers • 88% of farmers male and 12% female. • 6.2% under 35 and 26% over 65 • Average age of farmers increasing by 6 months every year! • Primary means of entry is by gift/inheritance.
Land Mobility and Succession Study – Jan 2013 • Many young people keen to enter or expand farming. • Macra commissioned the study with industry support. • 421 full time farmers, all over 50 years, surveyed. • 100 farmers participated in focus groups/ meetings. • 48% of households (operator +/or spouse) had other income source
Land Mobility and Succession in Ireland Succession • 48% no farming successor identified because • No children – 29% • Not yet decided – 24% • Children not interested – 20% • 40% would like to retire in future (+45% possibly) • Not influenced by enterprise or area farmed
Land Mobility and Succession in Ireland Farmers without Farming Successors • 5% received formal advice/information (+12% informal) • 52% accountants and 24% solicitors • 59% no concerns about succession/inheritance • Consideration of future options • Reduce intensity, change enterprise & seek help (94% +) • Renting (78%) & long term leasing (74%) • 28% consider selling & 27% forestry • 20% aware of leasing tax exemption (+28% uncertain of details) • Mistrust and scepticism about long term leasing
Recommendations • Information • Information guide on options (focus on those without farming successors) • Generate discussion and debate • Regular media features (case studies) • Programme for professionals • Consider support within RDP • Awareness of current incentives • Maintain existing supports • Promote long term leasing & tax exemption
Recommendations • Consider new models of collaboration • Partnerships • Share farming • Long leases • Other contract arrangements • Promote concept of retirement & retirement planning • Brokerage service • Policies to encourage mobility • Working group to pursue issues
Actions • Macra has secured funding to recruit a ‘Land Mobility Programme Manager’ – April 2013. • National Farm Advisory service (Teagasc) have new action plan on collaborative farming • All stakeholders willing to promote new mechanisms for young farmers to enter and expand farming.
Conclusions • The family farm model in Ireland is the predominant model of land ownership. • There is a defined need to promote different forms of land use as many owners do not have identified successors. • Policy support through the Rural Development Programme could accelerate the adoption of other collaborative means of farming in Ireland.
