Young farmers being 'pushed out' of Leitrim by land access and affordability crisis

Young farmers are being ‘pushed out’ of the sector due to land accessibility and insufficient support, Cllr Justin Warnock told a meeting of Leitrim County Council.

Speaking at May’s meeting, Cllr Warnock stressed the need for a robust new Farm Retirement Scheme to be introduced as part of the 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) applications, in order to help retain young people on farms in the county.

“We need something concrete this year coming forward in the budget. If it’s in the budget, it’s set in stone,” he said.

He highlighted that limited land accessibility is forcing young farmers out, as they struggle to compete financially with others who have greater resources.

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Succession remains one of the most pressing issues in Irish agriculture, with many older farmers having sons or daughters willing to take over the family farm, but facing numerous barriers in doing so, raising concerns about the future viability of farming.

Cllr Warnock also called for the introduction of a low interest loan scheme to support young people entering the sector.

“They’re taking on a business and there’s huge costs against you setting up,” he said.

“There’s an ageing population in agriculture and we have to make it affordable for them.”

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His motion received unanimous support from councillors.

Cllr James Gilmartin echoed the concerns, stating, “Land accessibility is the number one problem. If you can’t access the land then you haven’t a leg to stand on.”