Who will inherit the farm? Break the taboo and talk about it, says Longford IFA’s Seán McKeon, ahead of Tuesday’s IFA meeting on succession

Longford IFA Regional Executive, Seán McKeon, has encouraged farming families to break the taboo and address the issue of farm inheritance. 

Speaking to the Longford Leader ahead of a public IFA meeting this Tuesday, Mr. McKeon said the matter of inheritance has become a no-go topic for many but is too important to be ignored.  

“The problem is that it’s a taboo in Ireland to talk about inheriting the farm, and very often, the person working the farm and investing in it, they still don’t know if it’s going to be theirs so they’re left in limbo. They can’t keep investing in it and not know. These questions need to be answered.”  

“Tuesday’s meeting will have a number of speakers who will cover a lot so if you are a young person, try and bring a parent if it’s a conversation that should be had, but also vice versa. Farmers should bring a potential successor to the meeting.” 

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While many would question the financial security of a career in farming, Mr. McKeon explained that change was on the horizon.

He said, “We in the IFA are trying to encourage more young people back to the land but we’re lobbying the government for a proper retirement scheme. In the next CAP, it is compulsory for the government to have a generational renewal fund so not only does the retired farmer get well compensated but there will be good incentives for farmers to take up the land as well.”  

“Suckler and beef prices are at an all time high however those good prices are masking an exodus. In Ireland, we would have lost 100,000 cattle between dairy and beef, and in the same period throughout Europe, there’s been a reduction of 7 million cattle. Cattle numbers are dropping everywhere. Beef especially has always been tight - the margins and profits weren’t there. The earnings weren’t there in the beef sector so people were voting with their feet and leaving it.” 

Mr. McKeon added, “We have lost a generation of farmers through hardship and bad prices. Farming - especially suckler and sheep farming - the earnings were low and so parents would have encouraged children to go out and get a good career rather than stay on the farm. We’re reaping what we have sown however in that those people have good jobs and are reluctant to take up the farm.” 

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Speaking about the upcoming meeting, Mr. McKeon explained the event was as much about the solutions as it was about addressing the challenges and said the speakers in attendance would be there to highlight options in addition to discussing the issues. 

He explained, “We have older people who don’t have a successor but are sitting on a land bank, and then there are younger farmers that do want to take up farming but don’t have a family farm to inherit, so on the back of that we’re running a succession and inheritance meeting at 7.30pm in Longford Arms. The meeting will highlight issues but it will also highlight the options available.”  

The event will hear from a number of speakers from both a financial and legal background, all of whom will discuss the various challenges and matters at hand as well as answering questions from the audience. 

Speakers on the night will include the IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle, who will speak about the Fair Deal Scheme; Irish Farmers Journal Legal columnist, Aishling Meehan, who will offer general legal advice in relation to planning and succession; farming advisor, Patrick Brady, of the Land Mobility Service who will speak about succession and partnership; and IFAC head of Financial Planning, Martin Glennon, who will address the financial side of farming.  

The IFA meeting on succession will take place on Tuesday September 23rd at 7.30pm and is open to both members and non members.