Mayo farmer helps launch new report to safeguard future of sheep sector
THE Young Sheep Farmer Forum (YSFF), supported by Kepak, Bord Bia and Mountbellew Agricultural College, has submitted a farmer-led recommendations report to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, to secure the future of Ireland’s sheep sector.
Aoife Mahony (Galway), Morgan Neary (Galway), Michael Feely (Roscommon), Rachel McCormack (Roscommon) and Darren Maguire (Mayo) formed part of a group of 15 farmers who participated in the Young Sheep Farmer Forum over the last number of months.
Darren, from Westport, is a final year student in Mountbellew and is involved in the family farm where they run 250 crossbred and hill ewes. He has done work placement with a Teagasc advisor working with hill farmers.
The collaborative initiative includes 15 recommendations created by its farmer members to tackle succession, improve land access and strengthen the viability of the sheep sector in Ireland which is currently at a crossroads. While sheepmeat exports were worth over €400 million to the Irish economy in 2024, 37% of farmers are aged 65 and older, highlighting the need to support the development of a resilient sector that strengthens rural communities and meets evolving market needs.
The YSFF report highlights practical solutions to reverse the decline in sheep numbers and make farming attractive for the next generation. Key proposals include:
* Phased Farm Retirement Scheme: A seven-year EU-supported model to incentivise land transfer.
* Statutory Land Mobility Body: A one-stop shop for succession planning and land access.
* Improved TAMS Supports: Higher grant rates (75%) and staged payments for young farmers.
* Education Reforms: Dedicated Green Cert modules on succession and online learning options.
* Sector-Specific Measures: Sheep Welfare Scheme continuity, price bonuses for young farmers, and marketing initiatives such as a focus on lamb in schools.
To help make these policy ambitions into tangible outcomes to empower the next generation of Irish sheep farmers, Kepak is also taking direct action with the launch of the new Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Producer Group. The group is open to existing and new Kepak suppliers under 35 years of age, registered as flock owner or flock keeper of a Bord Bia Quality Assured Lamb Flock. The initiative provides both financial incentives and professional development opportunities to young farmers.
Benefits for members include:
Bonus payments on in-spec lambs
€0.20/kg on 'O' and 'R' grades
€0.30/kg on 'E' and 'U' grades
Cull ewes: Additional €0.10/kg bonus
Annual social and knowledge-transfer events to support members and build a strong peer network.
Further details on specifications and weight bands are available from Kepak’s Lamb Procurement Team in Athleague.
Minister Heydon welcomed the report, saying: “Succession planning is a complex challenge with a lot of personal, financial and practical factors shaping how farmers make decisions. I would like to commend the Young Sheep Farmer Forum, Kepak, Bord Bia and Mountbellew Agricultural College for their commitment and hard work in developing these recommendations. The Young Sheep Farmer Forum’s report provides practical recommendations that reflect the everyday reality of young farmers and the real challenges they face on the ground.
“Generational renewal is a key priority for my department and initiatives like the Young Sheep Farmer Forum very much complement the government’s dedication to supporting the sustainability and viability of Irish agriculture.”
Aoife Mahony and Michael Feely, members of YSFF added: “These recommendations are practical, achievable, and essential for the long-term sustainability of Irish sheep farming. It’s a positive step towards a stronger future for sheep farming and the establishment of a new Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Producer Group shows that the industry is determined to back the next generation of farmers.”