Ahead of this year’s annual agricultural conference and Rally weekend, the President of Macra na Feirme has called for a fully resourced Basic Payment National Reserve for 2017 to be made available for young farmers and new entrants to farming.   

Macra President Séan Finan – a native of Co Roscommon - is calling on Minister Michael Creed to examine a reallocation of funding, to ensure there is a National Reserve available up to 2020 and in line with encouraging generational renewal in the CAP. 

Mr Finan says the lack of a reserve over the past year has made life very tough for young farmers.

The importance of the National Reserve has long been campaigned for by Macra as an important policy instrument to help young farmers get established in farming.

“Reaching Your Farming Potential” is the title of this weekend’s conference which will be addressed by Minister of State Andrew Doyle, Munster Rugby player Donnacha Ryan, Marketing Director of JFC John Concannon, the FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2012 Dermot O’ Connor and Munster AI Vet Doreen Corridan.