'Held back by cost, access and uncertainty' - Young Mayo farming generation at risk

Mayo MEP Maria Walsh will host the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Ireland this week, in a visit aimed at supporting the next generation of Irish farmers.

German MEP Norbert Lins will join MEP Walsh for a visit to UCD Lyons Farm in Co Kildare on Thursday 9 April, where they will meet with key stakeholders from across the agricultural sector to discuss generational renewal, young farmers and the long-term sustainability of Irish farming.

MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said:

“I am delighted to welcome the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the CAP to Ireland this week. Hosting my EPP colleague MEP Norbert Lins is an important opportunity to bring the realities facing Irish farmers into the heart of EU decision-making. My focus is on ensuring that MEP Lins hears directly from young Irish farmers to inform his work in Brussels.

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“The visit will include engagement with young farmers, academics and leading agricultural stakeholders. Young farmers and generational renewal will be at the heart of MEP Lins’ time at UCD Lyons Farm, Co Kildare. As the lead negotiator on generational renewal, my focus is clear: we need a CAP that genuinely helps young farmers, supports farm families, and reflects the reality of farming life in Ireland today.

“If we don’t make farming a viable and attractive option for young people, we risk losing the backbone of rural Ireland. I’m hearing every day from young farmers who want to stay on the land, but are being held back by cost, access and uncertainty. That has to change - and that’s where CAP reform has to step up.

“Bringing MEP Lins to Ireland is about making sure those real experiences are heard at EU level. Because if we get generational renewal right, we’re not just supporting farmers - we’re securing the future of our farming sector and rural communities right across Ireland.”