European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen has told Macra he he was committed to pushing for 10% ring-fenced funding for young farmers.

The commissioner made the comments during a sit-down meeting with Macra national president Josephine O’Neill and National Agricultural Affairs Committee chair James McElearney on Day 3 of the National Ploughing Championships. 

The Macra representatives demanded a commitment on ring-fenced generational renewal funding from the commissioner.

According to Hansen, the funding is a key part of current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) negotiations.

Macra highlighted the importance of the European Commission's proposed starter pack for young farmers in the next CAP, focusing on the inclusion of a mandatory succession scheme. 

The commissioner supported Macra's continued call for the mandatory provision of installation aid to support young farmers in establishing their farm enterprises. 

Installation aid

Stressing the importance of this support to ensure Ireland's young farmers are competing on a level playing field, O'Neill said: "Ireland is currently the only EU member state without installation aid, and this puts our young farmers at a significant disadvantage compared to their EU counterparts."

The commissioner said he was in support of installation aid in prior CAP cycle negotiations, and will continue to push for it to be a mandatory element of the post-2027 version. 

Macra also outlined its proposed definition of an active farmer to the commissioner.

This definition would support "genuine active farmers" who take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the farm, and bear the inherent financial and production risks associated with running the farm business, according to Macra

O'Neill also reiterated the organisation’s call for subsidised farm relief services to be provided under the next CAP, in line with the European Commission’s proposals.

Macra and Mercosur

Recently, Macra described the suspension of Brazilian beef, poultry and other animal product imports into the EU as "a significant step towards protecting a level playing field for Irish and European farmers".

The suspension, which came into force earlier this month (September 3), follows concerns regarding Brazil's compliance with EU rules on the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals.

Macra president Josephine O'Neill said the suspension "must be more than a temporary measure" and called for "rigorous verification of compliance" before Brazilian beef exports to the EU are permitted to resume.

O'Neill said the decision to suspend Brazilian beef imports is "a welcome and significant development for Irish agriculture".

She added: "This decision reinforces why Macra remains firmly opposed to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement."