Your Say

24/06/2008

Euroview

Ask any farmer why he farms and the answer will often be that farming is “in the blood”. Farming is a long family tradition for the majority, going back many generations.

Yet this tradition is under threat as falling farm incomes push the younger generation out of farming towards better paid jobs.

A report published by the NFU in July 2007 showed that the majority of UK farmers are now aged over 55, and the average age is rising. Only 10,000 people under the age of 35 in the UK have a farming business registered in their own name.

This problem is not confined to the UK either – more than 50 per cent of holdings in the EU are owned by farmers over the age of 55 and 25 per cent by those over the age of 65. Just seven per cent are run by those under 35.

Conservatives in the European Parliament believe more should be done to help young farmers enter and stay in agriculture and the "health check" of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a good opportunity to tackle this issue.

The European Parliament has adopted a report on support measures for young farmers. Although the report does not introduce new legislation, it forms the basis of the Parliament position that the Commission will take note of when it drafts its future report on this issue.

The report recommends ways to encourage young people to go into farming and to stay in the sector, including loan subsidisation and increased start-up support.

Conservatives believe that the abolishing of milk quotas and production restrictions are a good start for freeing up young farmers, as these provide an extra level of difficulty for young people trying to get into the industry.

Equally, the changing nature of the Common Agricultural Policy is imposing extra burdens on farmers, notably in meeting cross compliance regulations and should be radically reformed.

Other major problems identified in the report include high installation costs, heavy debt, a lack of available holdings and insufficient training.

Young farmers have a lot to offer. Farms run by young people are, on average, more profitable and young farmers are more willing to adopt innovative solutions, use environment-friendly farming methods and adjust to market requirements.

What is needed are better start-up incentives and investment grants for young farmers who may be reticent about making the large capital outlays required to enter farming.

The Commission must now take note of our recommendations and free up the industry for young farmers.
 

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