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Macra National President Josephine O’Neill, accompanied by members of the organisation, met with MEPs Norbert Lins and Maria Walsh at UCD Lyons Farm on Thursday, 9th April, to discuss the key challenges facing young farmers in Ireland and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The engagement brought together representatives from Macra, UCD and EU policymakers for a focused discussion on generational renewal and the sustainability of the agricultural sector. During the visit, Macra outlined the significant barriers currently facing young farmers, with particular emphasis on succession, access to land and access to finance. The organisation stressed that without...

Macra welcomes the €100m emergency package announced by the Government as a significant step in the right direction towards supporting young farmers and rural young people over the next five months. Macra had been calling for the development of a crisis response scheme, and following direct engagement with the Minister for Agriculture over the weekend, during which the organisation highlighted the need for targeted support and concerns surrounding criteria of the proposals, which may affect young farmers' accessibility. The organisation welcomes the usage based support scheme and the confirmation of consideration for new entrants in the development of the scheme....

Macra to voice concerns of young people at Friday’s stakeholder meeting with key asks based on results of a fuel and fertiliser survey of its members. Macra has called for urgent and targeted supports for young people living in rural Ireland ahead of Friday’s fuel meeting at Agriculture House in Dublin, as nationwide fuel protests continue. Over 370 young farmers, contractors and rural dwellers responded to a Fuel and Fertiliser Crisis survey circulated by Macra to its membership. The findings highlight the scale of the pressure facing rural communities, with over 94% of respondents indicating they are financially impacted by...

Macra has expressed growing concern about the rising cost of energy and the significant impact it is having on young people living and working in rural Ireland. Increasing fuel prices are placing additional financial pressure on many young people who are already grappling with the high cost of living. The rising price of fuel for agricultural vehicles is placing a significant burden on young farmers. Young farmers operating on tight budgets and small margins may find this unexpected increase particularly challenging. "Our young farmers are facing a stark reality. In recent weeks, the price they receive for their produce has...

Macra has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, that rules governing the construction of one-off rural homes are set to be relaxed in the coming months. The Minister has indicated that new planning guidelines aimed at liberalising the current system will be introduced in the coming weeks and will be mandatory for all local authorities. The proposed changes are expected to make it easier for people to build homes in rural areas, addressing longstanding concerns about restrictive planning rules.Macra has long campaigned for reforms to rural housing policy, highlighting the challenges many...