Macra will host its annual national rally and conference in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway this coming weekend with the theme of ‘Feeding our Future’ and guest speaker, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.
Comer Group Hotels and Agrishield have been announced as sponsors of the event which will take place on Saturday, October 28, at the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe.
Macra president Elaine Houlihan said: “‘Feeding our Future’ is a fitting theme for this year’s ag conference as we want to ensure there is a future not only in agriculture, but also rural Ireland for our generation and the ones coming after us.
“We are delighted to partner with Agrishield and the Comer Group Hotels to bring you this year’s Macra ag conference.
“We look forward to welcoming you to the Shearwater Hotel for an action packed weekend organised by Roscommon/Galway Macra,” she added.
Macra national conference
Minister Charlie McConalogue is the conference’s key note speaker.
Some of the conference panellists include: Ted Massey senior inspector responsible for the department and Biodiversity Division with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM); Niamh Lenehan, head of the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority; and Jonathan Keane, executive head chef at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo.
Macra has urged young people interested in the future of farming or interested in the Irish agri-food system, to join the association at the event on Saturday.
Entry to the conference is free but Macra has said that booking is essential, which can be done through Macra’s Instagram page and the conference will get underway at 1:45p.m on Saturday.
Topical issues
Macra has long argued for more government or EU support for generation renewal and recently criticised the lack of such support in Budget 2024.
At the time, Houlihan said: “We, as young farmers are not holding our own, the average age of farmers is rising, the level of young farmers is remaining below 7%; young farmers should be on an endangered species list in this state.
“The aspiring young farmers that we now see are the best educated in Europe, they actively wish to farm. It is not a case as it once was that the oldest boy got the farm, it is different.
“We continue to advocate from a rural development perspective; we need to see young farmers bringing forth their skills, training, knowledge and passion. Without this cohort, there will be no farms in a very short period of time,” she added.