IFA President Tim Cullinan said that a Department of Agriculture report highlighting the number of young farmers wishing to leave the sector, which appeared in the media recently, will further erode farmer trust in the Government.
“Reports like this only serve to further fuel the view that the Government is working behind the scenes to undermine our dairy and livestock sectors,” he said.
“While there may well be some farmers who wish to exit the sector, we should all be focussing on providing a pathway for the next generation to get into farming”.
Mr Cullinan said that just 6 per cent of farmers in Ireland are under 35 and that ‘talking down’ the sector was driving young people away.
“It needs to stop. We need proper engagement on how we get young people into farming rather than the Government running down the sector,” he said.
