This article is from page 18 of the 2014-10-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
YOUNG Clare farmers will continue to be forced from the land in the year ahead as Budget 2014 does little solve the growing problem of an aging farmers population in the county.
North Clare farmers Michael Davoren says the budget will be cash-neutral on his farm, but expressed his disappointment that no funding has been made available to reintroduce the Farm Retirement Scheme.
The budget will see the reopening of a number of environmental schemes on farms as well as a new scheme to encourage landowners into leasing unused land.
“Farmers would see this as being a fairly good budget.
“There was nothing negative in it, except for the water charges and sure farmers have always paid water rates.
“The leasing of land is good, the opening of some new schemes is also positive, but on the downside there is still a big issue with farmers retiring and that has not been tackled. “The age prof le of farmers in Clare is old, something has to be done in future budgets to encourage farmers to retire earlier and to keep young farmers on the land,” said Mr Davoren.
“The change to the taxation system around land leasing might help get some more land active, but it won’t tackle the big issue.
“Where does a farmer go at 60? There is only a living for one family on a farm, so if he gives his farm over to his son, what does he live on for the next six years?
“So farmers have to stay in business until they are 66. A proper farmer retirement scheme is something that will be needed over the year.
“I think, for me, this budget will be cash neutral.
“The fact that agricultural diesel hasn’t gone on, or customs and excise hasn’t gone up on any of the materials is a good thing.
“But this budget won’t have a signif cant effect on me or on many farmers.”