Sinn Féin leader reacts to an Agriland/ICMSA-commissioned survey finding one in three farmers plan to leave within five years and sets out two immediate policy challenges for government.
McDonald identified two practical challenges: make farming attractive to younger people in a market of near full employment, and provide supported transition options for older farmers, including part-time farming pathways.
She urged the government and the Minister for Agriculture to treat generational renewal as a core policy issue, warning of consequences for the country if younger generations lose faith in farming as a livelihood.
On EU policy, McDonald criticised proposals to cut CAP funding while increasing defence spending, and said Ireland’s EU presidency should actively defend farmers and food security.
Agriland.ie Watch: 'Ireland's in trouble' if young generation leaves farming. Speaking to Agriland at the National Ploughing Championships today (September 16), McDonald addressed the statistic of one in three farmers intending to leave the industry within five years. Describing the statistics as "very stark", Deputy McDonald said: "I was shocked by them.
McDonald By Joe Griffin September 16, 2026 3:30 PM Share this article Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Agriland journalist Charles O'Donnell If the younger generation leaves farming, it would mean trouble for both the sector and the whole country, according to leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald. On Ireland's EU presidency, the Sinn Féin leader said that the government is "not simply a referee in this". "You have to go and bat for our farmers and for the agricultural sector," Deputy McDonald said.
"I noticed the demographic was also interesting: She added that the question to ask is "what are we going to do about it, and more specifically what's the government going to do about it?" Challenges On the subject of keeping people farming, Deputy McDonald outlined two challenges. "That to me is obscene, that to me makes absolutely no sense.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Agriland that succession represents a “huge challenge” and that pressures on farming are “significant”. Speaking with Agriland editor Stella Meehan at the Ploughing Championships today (September 15), the Taoiseach was asked for on his views on an Agriland survey findings, which showed tha
The leader of the main EU-wide organisation for young farmers has called on agriculture ministers across the EU to provide “fair conditions” and “confidence to invest in the future”. Dutch farmer Peter Meedendorp, president of CEJA (which Macra is a member of) was addressing EU agriculture ministers who are meeting in
Delays in transferring land to the next generation need to be urgently addressed by the Irish government and the EU, the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) has heard. Speaking at the meeting at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo last evening (Thursday, September 24), farmer Joh
Ireland is one of the best dairy producing countries in the world, pumping out an estimated 8.84 billion litres of high quality milk in 2026. Our nation’s presence in the global market is strong, as is our production levels. But the challenges of generational renewal continue to pressure the industry, with over one thi
What was once a bipartisan slam dunk has now become a hyper-politicized game of chicken, with hunger, nutrition, and conservation programs on the line.
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.