Fianna Fáil councillor for Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Justin Warnock has said that young farmers are unable to compete with big companies and individuals with “deeper pockets”.

The councillor highlighted the problem of generational renewal in Co. Leitrim and in the rest of Ireland.

He told Agriland that a failure to keep young people farming in rural counties will see a return of “the landlord system”.

Warnock said: “It’s a huge problem in Leitrim. Take, for argument's sake, a 90ac farm - €30,000 it might cost to lease it. What young person who wants to start off in farming can afford that?

“The biggest problem is, a lot of these people have their Green Cert, have their education, but the family farm isn’t big enough to split, as it is in other counties.

Warnock believes that the ageing population of farmers is a problem throughout the EU.

"When you take on farming, you are taking on a business. It’s alright renting the land, but you have to stock the land as well. You have a massive outlay before you get any payment back," the councillor explained.

"One of the other things that’s crippling (young farmers) in this country is, if they start out this year, they may not get paid in this calendar year. That’s wrong and something that needs to be addressed," Warnock added.

Despite the difficulties facing the sector, Warnock said he wouldn't give up his life as a farmer "for anything".

He explained: "There's an interest in it, and it is a great way of life, but you cannot be in poverty over it.

"There is opportunities there, and there is good payments, but young farmers can't afford to give it to the landlords.

"There is one bit of comfort, I know a lot of young people with degrees, going back and getting their green certs from abroad and doing it online," he added.