The last time around, in the previous Programme for Government, the ‘forgotten farmers’ were promised the sun, moon and stars, but what happened? Nothing.

Now we eventually have a Minister for Agriculture that might last a few weeks – hopefully. Will our situation be dealt with? We hope that – this time – it’s not just hot air blowing around…as happened before with the previous government.

There is a group of us – old ‘young farmers’ for want of a better description – that got no Installation Aid [Young Farmer’s Installation Scheme] and no top-ups on our entitlements. Now that the TAMS [Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes] is coming to an end, we did not qualify for the 60% grant either, even though we are all under 40 years-of-age.

The government says that it wants to give young farmers the best start, so let’s do it.

To give us a fair crack of the whip, we should get a top-up on all of our entitlements – like new entrants – of at least €80 per entitlement for a period of five years.

‘Young farmers’

What about TAMS? When a new TAMS commences, we should be treated the same as the ‘young farmers’ and get the young farmer top-up too.

This would bring fairness. It would help our cause – as old ‘young farmers’. We need this; farm-gate prices in some sectors of agriculture are below the cost of production.

Right now, we need all the help we can get – not just from the EU but from our own government too.

From Neilus O’Connor, Co. Kerry