Our photograph shows: (L-R) Damien O’Reilly, EU Affairs, ICOS, Bryan Hynes, Deirdre Hynes, Austin Finn, Specialist Projects Consultant, Land Mobility, Aisling Meehan, Specialist Agri Solicitor, and Martin Clarke, Commercial Manager, IFAC, at the Aurivo ‘Your Farm Your Future’ event in Claremorris. Photo: Richard McCarthy
On the 20th January, AURIVO Co-operative hosted over 350 farmers at its ‘Your Farm, Your Future’ event in Claremorris, to engage in discussions on the future of farming, covering key topics such as succession planning and the increasing global demand for dairy.
The evening began with a panel discussion on farm succession, featuring Austin Finn of the Land Mobility Service, Aisling Meehan, Specialist Agri Solicitor, Martin Clarke of IFAC, and Aurivo dairy farmers Deirdre and Bryan Hynes.
The panel emphasised the broad range of options available to farmers planning for the future of their farms. While succession is traditionally viewed as passing the farm from parents to children, alternative arrangements – such as long-term leases, registered farm partnerships, and share farming – are becoming increasingly popular.
Austin Finn highlighted the importance of careful succession planning and outlined the resources available to farmers, including the Succession Planning Advice Grant (SPAG). This grant provides farmers over the age of 60 with up to €1,500 to cover 50% of professional fees for succession planning advice.
These options enable farmers to step back from active farming, bring the next generation with a renewed energy into the farm and ensures it remains an active dairy enterprise.
