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Hand of young female owner of modern cowfarm holding mobile phone

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>You can’t open a farming magazine these days without being told that “the future is digital.” Sensors, dashboards, apps, drones; apparently, every farm is now a computer with grass on top.</p><p>A lot of this tech is useful, but plenty of it is pure fluff. Irish farmers don’t need gadgets that look good in brochures, they need things that save time, money, and grey hairs. Digitising your farm shouldn’t mean losing the run of yourself. It should just make the day run a bit smoother.</p><figure id="figure-e5zq8at6h4mh9dwwh5"><img id="e5zq8at6h4mh9dwwh5" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/cwqr7mK3cu19ZG2wWRdyAW1kV8FhHzQ4RmrLoOFr1Rzu3YJdQXXuTwy9Etck8Dac.jpeg" alt="modern farm technology" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/cwqr7mK3cu19ZG2wWRdyAW1kV8FhHzQ4RmrLoOFr1Rzu3YJdQXXuTwy9Etck8Dac.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Start with the Problem, Not the Gadget</h3><p>Teagasc and IFA Skillnet found that 46% of Irish farmers are already using some kind of digital technology, and another 40% said they’re open to using it in the future. That’s a strong signal, most farmers want to get more efficient; they just don’t want a laptop welded to the tractor.</p><p>So before buying anything, ask yourself: What’s the actual problem I’m trying to solve?</p><p>If it’s paperwork, get an app like Herdwatch or AgriNet, they cost a few hundred euro a year but will save hours in admin and compliance.<br>If fertiliser bills are creeping up, invest in soil testing and digital nutrient maps.<br>If time is your issue, simple sensors that text you when the water trough’s empty or the gate’s left open will do more for your sanity than any fancy dashboard.</p><p>Start small. Fix the pain points first. Let the tech earn its place on your farm.</p><figure id="figure-uzis48kx1mmh9dx0ab" class=""><img id="uzis48kx1mmh9dx0ab" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/7y0VZY4YDjoQT0z0yVtrjTuuPy3JsLAB5bHuCwOavocRWNvKaaoZUKA0RTB2QUHI.jpeg" alt="farm technology implementation" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/7y0VZY4YDjoQT0z0yVtrjTuuPy3JsLAB5bHuCwOavocRWNvKaaoZUKA0RTB2QUHI.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>The Good Stuff — Tools That Actually Pull Their Weight<br></h3><p>Here’s what’s proving its worth on Irish farms right now, and roughly what it’ll set you back.</p><ul><li>Farm management apps: Expect to pay €150–€400 a year for most herd or crop software. They save hours every week on paperwork, inspection prep, and breeding records.</li><li><strong>Precision GPS systems:</strong> John Deere’s Precision Ag Essentials retrofit kit, which includes the display, receiver, and modem, runs at about €2,990 plus VAT, with an annual licence of around €2,990 for advanced features. Tillage farms often recoup that in under two years through lower diesel use and reduced overlaps.</li><li><strong>Soil testing and mapping: </strong>Full digital soil maps typically cost €25–€35 per acre, depending on your contractor. They help cut fertiliser waste and boost grass response, worth it on almost any system.</li><li><strong>Low-cost sensors: </strong>Handy bits of kit like temperature or gate sensors cost anywhere between €100 and €500 each, and they just text or ping you if something changes. Nothing fancy, just smart.</li><li><strong>Drones and imagery: </strong>Now, these are impressive, but they’re not for everyone. A high-end agricultural drone in Ireland will set you back €25,000–€35,000. And keep in mind that aerial spraying is tightly regulated, so they’re mostly for mapping, not chemicals.</li></ul><p>If it doesn’t save you labour, fuel, or fertiliser, it’s probably not worth the money.</p><figure id="figure-0myetto8l6mh9hij1t" class=""><img id="0myetto8l6mh9hij1t" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/25sLRMtnjWcDtfUh3j685qByKSX0cwjIXuEoxUkOGryY4GOpcNAso9s2paXrVj5t.jpeg" alt="Smiling Female Black Landscape Architect Using Tablet Talking to Worker in Garden Center" title="Smiling Female Black Landscape Architect Using Tablet Talking to Worker in Garden Center" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/25sLRMtnjWcDtfUh3j685qByKSX0cwjIXuEoxUkOGryY4GOpcNAso9s2paXrVj5t.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Avoid Tech That Solves Problems You Don’t Have<br></h3><p>There’s no shortage of salesmen selling “revolutionary digital platforms.” Many of them have never set foot in a wet field in February.</p><p>If a gadget needs perfect broadband, constant software updates, or someone from overseas to log in and fix it, that’s not a solution, that’s a headache waiting to happen.</p><p>The OECD notes that high costs and lack of digital skills are still the biggest barriers to tech adoption on farms. That’s not a surprise. The problem isn’t that farmers are old-fashioned, it’s that some tech just isn’t built for the reality of rural Ireland.</p><p>So before you buy, ask yourself:</p><ul><li>Can I fix this myself if it breaks?</li><li>Does it work offline?</li><li>Will it actually save me money or just give me data I’ll never use?</li></ul><p>If the answers aren’t clear, keep your wallet shut.</p><figure id="figure-aqvai92v8hmh9hkvle" class=""><img id="aqvai92v8hmh9hkvle" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/8iiE2F8m81bsxo8j7cL4QMTWsIhLh2CpcbNjWl63qLw7RUz8BOqlE6LNTnCOn61b.jpeg" alt="Let's take a walk" title="Let's take a walk" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/8iiE2F8m81bsxo8j7cL4QMTWsIhLh2CpcbNjWl63qLw7RUz8BOqlE6LNTnCOn61b.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Think of Tech Like Machinery<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>You wouldn’t buy a new tractor because someone in a polo shirt said it’s “innovative.” You’d ask how it handles, what it costs to maintain, and whether it’ll last. Treat tech the same way.</p><p>A few bits of advice that work:</p><ul><li><strong>Try before you buy: </strong>Most platforms will let you demo or test them.</li><li><strong>Ask someone local:</strong> A neighbour or discussion group will tell you what’s worth it, and what to avoid.</li><li><strong>Check compatibility:</strong> Make sure it links to ICBF, Bord Bia, or DAFM systems.</li><li><strong>Add gradually: </strong>One tool that works perfectly is better than ten you forget to use.</li></ul><figure id="figure-g6v8nfj98lmh9hmv8l" class=""><img id="g6v8nfj98lmh9hmv8l" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2eN3Pmf5jMjLm8mveL6AACw1w8obxOFUbBYGhTpJMh8F6nmQgq1rCtkLhn3vbVtx.jpeg" alt="This cattle counter app is really useful" title="This cattle counter app is really useful" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2eN3Pmf5jMjLm8mveL6AACw1w8obxOFUbBYGhTpJMh8F6nmQgq1rCtkLhn3vbVtx.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Why It Actually Matters<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Digitisation isn’t about turning your farm into a science lab. It’s about freeing up time so you can make better decisions.</p><p>Ireland already leads in grass-based farming and traceability. The next competitive edge will come from data confidence, being able to show, with facts, what’s happening on your farm and why.</p><p>That doesn’t mean fitting Wi-Fi to every gatepost. It means picking the tools that work for your setup, your land, your stock, your broadband.</p><figure id="figure-b1e4f0jhamh9hogv2" class=""><img id="b1e4f0jhamh9hogv2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3aE0tDghUxTujXBVAWABwyAAw7MntZGIBBveoT6SFa2JRfGhl0REoGjUe13VCkoc.jpeg" alt="An agricultural drone sprays crops in the early morning sunlight. Advanced technology in farming, automation, and innovation improving productivity in agriculture." title="An agricultural drone sprays crops in the early morning sunlight. Advanced technology in farming, automation, and innovation improving productivity in agriculture." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3aE0tDghUxTujXBVAWABwyAAw7MntZGIBBveoT6SFa2JRfGhl0REoGjUe13VCkoc.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>You don’t have to digitise your entire farm overnight, and you don’t need every shiny gadget that lands at the Ploughing. Start with something small that genuinely helps, see how it goes, and build from there.</p><p>The best technology in farming isn’t loud or flashy. It’s the stuff you hardly notice because it’s doing its job quietly in the background, saving time, reducing waste, and letting you focus on the real work.</p><p>So yes, go digital, but keep your feet on the ground. Use common sense, mind the budget, and don’t let anyone convince you that more gadgets equal more progress. The smartest farms aren’t the most high-tech ones. They’re the ones that use tech wisely, and still know when to leave the phone in the jeep.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

Digitising Your Farm: A Practical Guide to Stay Grounded

a flowery field margin and a wheat field in springtime

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Ask any farmer and you’ll often get the same look when “biodiversity” comes up; half interest, half fatigue. It sounds like another job for the clipboard brigade. But strip it back, and biodiversity just means giving nature a fighting chance to do what it’s always done. One of the simplest, smartest ways to do that is with wildflower margins.</p><p>They don’t need much land. They don’t cost a fortune. And quietly, they pull their weight in more ways than one.</p><figure id="figure-1omtmxw45hmh9currv" class=""><img id="1omtmxw45hmh9currv" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/22IQJf2KqaReSFeXRaQZHINJjBmazztFCYERspFxpDcFaYYzntmih6Jj0zcgmAZW.jpeg" alt="wildflower field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/22IQJf2KqaReSFeXRaQZHINJjBmazztFCYERspFxpDcFaYYzntmih6Jj0zcgmAZW.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Pollinators: The Unpaid Staff That Keep the Wheels Turning</h3><p>Here’s the plain truth: without pollinators, Irish farming would grind to a halt. Bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and beetles do enormous work that rarely makes the balance sheet. In Ireland alone, these tiny workers are worth their weight in gold through food-crop production and trade.</p><p>The problem? They’re vanishing. Roughly one-third of Ireland’s wild bee species are now threatened with extinction, and about half have declined since the 1980s. That’s not a statistic to brush off, it’s a warning that the ecosystem keeping our crops alive is under strain.</p><p>A simple metre-wide strip of native wildflowers can help change that. Sown along a field edge or beside a gateway, it feeds pollinators through the “hungry gap” between late spring and autumn, when not much else is in bloom. It’s a small act with a big impact, keeping that unseen workforce healthy and active when they’re needed most.</p><figure id="figure-rseou0itbmh9d3gvz" class=""><img id="rseou0itbmh9d3gvz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2dXs3WJxtGtpnST9o4WwaqfVgZ8Xr5aCvfiMcKNzAYrgEZtl4n2YeXcpCnsdPlR3.jpeg" alt="Daisy flowers meadow above view" title="Daisy flowers meadow above view" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2dXs3WJxtGtpnST9o4WwaqfVgZ8Xr5aCvfiMcKNzAYrgEZtl4n2YeXcpCnsdPlR3.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Nature’s Own Pest Control System<br></h3><p>Wildflower margins don’t just feed bees, they recruit allies. Ladybirds, lacewings, and parasitic wasps thrive along those strips, keeping aphids and caterpillars in check before they ever reach the crop.</p><p>Research from across Europe shows that flower-rich strips boost natural pest-control services by roughly 16% on average. That’s fewer chemical sprays, cleaner water, healthier soils, and less pressure on the environment. It’s nature doing the job, quietly and efficiently, while the farmer focuses on the rest of the operation.</p><p>And once they’re established, wildflower margins don’t demand much. A light mow once or twice a year keeps them in shape, that’s it.</p><figure id="figure-xl9jap41ymh9d5b12" class=""><img id="xl9jap41ymh9d5b12" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2q1AsjL4fCamDu1L3OQebK4JYX45ZwwizcPvjcdmnxGiAlxsE9Md3Hi6SyJxUfSD.jpeg" alt="bumblebee on a flower" title="bumblebee on a flower" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2q1AsjL4fCamDu1L3OQebK4JYX45ZwwizcPvjcdmnxGiAlxsE9Md3Hi6SyJxUfSD.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Good for the Land, Great for the Look<br></h3><p>Irish farmers get plenty of flak, about emissions, runoff, you name it. But those who’ve planted wildflower margins have found that they change the story entirely. They look great, hum with life, and show that farmers are part of the climate solution, not the problem.</p><p>They’re good PR, but they’re also good business. Across Europe, insect pollination adds almost €15 billion every year to the food economy. Those splashes of colour along the lane or ditch aren’t just for show; they’re part of a much bigger picture, a farming system that’s productive, balanced, and forward-looking.</p><figure id="figure-hzigjyo9hamh9d6u1o" class=""><img id="hzigjyo9hamh9d6u1o" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/20ph9oKLfEVB9R4ueVfuXDLyIFiqnUpTmr2S2mfrdZSk1SCXBnFQ2K5KRdyn0KqQ.jpeg" alt="Field margin with wild flowers growing in UK farmland" title="Field margin with wild flowers growing in UK farmland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/20ph9oKLfEVB9R4ueVfuXDLyIFiqnUpTmr2S2mfrdZSk1SCXBnFQ2K5KRdyn0KqQ.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Getting Started: Keep It Simple<br></h3><ul><li><strong>Go native: </strong>Irish wildflower seed mixes are best suited to local soils and pollinators.</li><li><strong>Clear first, sow once: </strong>Remove weeds before sowing; mow lightly after flowering.</li><li><strong>Pick smart spots: </strong>Ditches, stone walls, or low-yield edges are ideal. Avoid ground that’s too rich or compacted.</li><li><strong>Keep records:</strong> Photos or quick notes help with eco-scheme claims and showcase your environmental work.<br></li></ul><p>You don’t need to rewild the farm. Just carve out a small space for nature to work alongside you, it’ll more than earn its keep.</p><figure id="figure-5v96qkd5anmh9da5zv" class=""><img id="5v96qkd5anmh9da5zv" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/33diXDlNYLblPoyMrvwoNFnezLSTSb37AiFG0VlQ1TlHZ5dFb2KxD7wtX9YRM8li.jpeg" alt="Closeup of yellow blooming common ragwort" title="Closeup of yellow blooming common ragwort" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/33diXDlNYLblPoyMrvwoNFnezLSTSb37AiFG0VlQ1TlHZ5dFb2KxD7wtX9YRM8li.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Irish farming is changing fast, and so are expectations. Wildflower margins are a simple, visible way to show progress, not pressure. They help biodiversity, tick compliance boxes, save on inputs, and build trust with the public.</p><p>When those flowers start to bloom, they’re more than decoration. They’re a reminder that the heart of Irish farming still beats in time with the land, steady, resilient, and alive.</p><p>Because sometimes, the best investments don’t come from new machinery or fancy tech. They start with a few seeds, a quiet corner of a field, and a farmer who knows that nature’s not the enemy, it’s the oldest partner we’ve got.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

The Benefits of Wildflower Margins in Agriculture

aerial view of a salmon fish farm in Bantry Bay in County Cork of western Ireland

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Irish aquaculture, the country’s quiet marine industry, is at a crossroads. Worth around €180–200 million annually, the sector supports over 1,900 jobs directly, many in coastal communities that have seen everything from post offices to pubs disappear. It’s a vital economic lifeline stretching from Donegal to Bantry Bay, producing world-class salmon, mussels, and oysters.</p><p>Yet in 2025, the debate over fish farming has never been sharper: how can Ireland grow its blue economy without harming the very waters it depends on?</p><figure id="figure-5srx20ob2smh3fadth" class=""><img id="5srx20ob2smh3fadth" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3UWBxSkyLlnA3p9RwtvxDP4fLYosiO7ZFEhDJwlSiZwcgqMX4KDIFen20M14ZEXt.jpeg" alt="irish aquaculture" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3UWBxSkyLlnA3p9RwtvxDP4fLYosiO7ZFEhDJwlSiZwcgqMX4KDIFen20M14ZEXt.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>The State of Play</h3><p>Ireland’s aquaculture sector may be small compared to global leaders like Norway or Scotland, but it punches above its weight in quality. Irish organic salmon and rope-grown mussels have carved a strong export reputation, particularly in France, Spain, and Germany. Over 90% of all Irish aquaculture output is exported, contributing significantly to rural incomes and Ireland’s food brand abroad.</p><p>But for years, growth has been hobbled by a familiar problem: licensing delays. The aquaculture licensing system, some say the most cumbersome in Europe, has left over 200 applications in limbo at any given time. Some operators have waited five years or more for decisions, effectively stalling innovation and investment.</p><p>A 2024 review by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine admitted that outdated processes and overlapping environmental assessments have slowed expansion and undermined confidence in the sector. Plans are now in motion to streamline the process under a new National Aquaculture Licensing Authority, due to come into effect in 2026.</p><figure id="figure-o1lwgq4rwtmh3ffy12" class=""><img id="o1lwgq4rwtmh3ffy12" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/29vRoQ8XNMOoJHKhd2YzvHSB6SdFz4ctS8TsE2zHBrEODKNx7r7FHIeAZPsh612A.jpeg" alt="A fish farm, with lush hills rising in the background under a cloudy sky." title="A fish farm, with lush hills rising in the background under a cloudy sky." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/29vRoQ8XNMOoJHKhd2YzvHSB6SdFz4ctS8TsE2zHBrEODKNx7r7FHIeAZPsh612A.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Balancing Growth with Environmental Duty<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Critics argue that Ireland’s fish farming model hasn’t always been kind to its coastal habitats. The core issue lies in finding balance, boosting production without damaging fragile ecosystems.</p><p>Environmental groups point to concerns about nutrient build-up beneath cages, potential disease spread, and the risk of farmed salmon escaping into wild stocks. Farmers, meanwhile, argue that tighter controls, fallowing periods, and newer cage technologies have already reduced impacts dramatically.</p><p>And there’s truth to that. Over the past decade, Ireland has quietly improved. Most salmon farms now operate under multi-year fallow rotations, allowing sites to recover. Many are also trialling semi-closed containment systems, reducing direct contact between farmed fish and the open sea. Water-quality monitoring is routine, and newer feed formulations have cut waste.</p><p>Meanwhile, the shellfish sector, producing around 30,000 tonnes annually, has become a model for low-impact aquaculture. Mussels and oysters filter water naturally, improving clarity and biodiversity while producing a premium export product. In that sense, shellfish farms are a sustainability success story Ireland rarely talks about.</p><figure id="figure-3kf51rp2p2mh3fhxk4" class=""><img id="3kf51rp2p2mh3fhxk4" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/9eehwiZQOOIuFpqYGlbjR6ZHs5X4kNsvLYQdLNwgtBx70udtpV6G632vcL1SdIqZ.jpeg" alt="Basket for catch lobster on the boardwalk" title="Basket for catch lobster on the boardwalk" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/9eehwiZQOOIuFpqYGlbjR6ZHs5X4kNsvLYQdLNwgtBx70udtpV6G632vcL1SdIqZ.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Licensing: The Bottleneck No One Can Ignore<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Ask any fish farmer what keeps them awake at night, and they’ll likely say one word: licensing. Ireland’s labyrinthine system has made it nearly impossible to expand production or trial new systems quickly.</p><p>The current system, shaped by overlapping EU directives on habitats, water, and environmental impact, has created a bureaucratic bottleneck. Every application must balance local community input, environmental concerns, and long-term sustainability goals, all good in theory, but painfully slow in practice.</p><p>The planned National Aquaculture Licensing Authority is meant to fix this. Its goal is to cut waiting times from several years to under one, using a single streamlined application process and clearer environmental criteria. If it works, it could finally unlock growth for a sector that’s been standing still for too long.</p><figure id="figure-mm818e2doimh3fj2p2" class=""><img id="mm818e2doimh3fj2p2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/8pkkVPFeUrZMnVJrFWu9TfdaiM26eGhvPF4juq5dyDyO1FC3fjo943Bj2qAlgC6L.jpeg" alt="Seagulls on a boat" title="Seagulls on a boat" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/8pkkVPFeUrZMnVJrFWu9TfdaiM26eGhvPF4juq5dyDyO1FC3fjo943Bj2qAlgC6L.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Push Offshore<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>One of the biggest trends in 2025 is the shift toward offshore fish farming, moving cages into deeper, more dynamic waters. Offshore systems can reduce localised seabed impacts and disease pressure, while opening up new space away from crowded inshore bays.</p><p>Trials are already under way in Galway Bay and off Donegal, testing new cage designs built to handle Atlantic conditions. The technology isn’t cheap, but the long-term benefits could be transformative. Offshore sites may allow Ireland to double production within sustainability limits, provided the regulatory and insurance frameworks can catch up.</p><p>Still, the financial barrier remains high. Setting up a new offshore site can cost millions, and without consistent policy support, few small operators can take that leap. The Marine Planning Framework has flagged offshore aquaculture as a priority growth area, but until the licensing system is fixed, progress will remain slow.</p><figure id="figure-nquf4hu9blmh3fkkjk" class=""><img id="nquf4hu9blmh3fkkjk" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/eFIZpeqrIEPAa7BZgFJLZxYROqxSC478Vw6qOD6myMcqwobBPqfvExbG7CGQdqMn.jpeg" alt="Colorful Buildings and Swans in Galway, Ireland" title="Colorful Buildings and Swans in Galway, Ireland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/eFIZpeqrIEPAa7BZgFJLZxYROqxSC478Vw6qOD6myMcqwobBPqfvExbG7CGQdqMn.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Local Jobs, Local Tensions<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>For many coastal communities, aquaculture isn’t an abstract policy topic, it’s their livelihood. Towns like Castletownbere, Dingle, and Kilcar depend on fish farming to sustain local economies. But it’s not without friction.</p><p>Some residents worry about visual impact, navigation rights, or the perception of industrialisation of coastal waters. Others welcome the steady jobs and year-round activity that aquaculture brings, especially where traditional fishing has declined.</p><p>In short, fish farming has become a microcosm of rural Ireland’s wider dilemma, how to balance tradition, environment, and economic survival.</p><figure id="figure-5cm5suj47lmh3fm18q" class=""><img id="5cm5suj47lmh3fm18q" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/19M5d69gQGP1BJ1L7gcp2CwLuTerJ2CEmRRZIFUcFxKMBsyo0NcanXYZMKcS8eC9.jpeg" alt="metal structure for oyster beds. aquaculture in Waterford Ireland." title="metal structure for oyster beds. aquaculture in Waterford Ireland." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/19M5d69gQGP1BJ1L7gcp2CwLuTerJ2CEmRRZIFUcFxKMBsyo0NcanXYZMKcS8eC9.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Can Growth and Green Coexist?<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>The honest answer is: yes, but not easily. Ireland has the natural assets to become a leader in sustainable aquaculture, clean waters, cool temperatures, and a strong scientific base through BIM, Teagasc, and the Marine Institute.</p><p>But without a faster, clearer, and science-led licensing system, those advantages will continue to slip away. Likewise, growth must come with transparency, community engagement, and robust monitoring so that “green” isn’t just a slogan.</p><p>If Ireland can get that balance right, encouraging innovation while protecting its bays and estuaries, aquaculture could help drive a new era of coastal prosperity.</p><figure id="figure-jcryb6q5jamh3fnfd0" class=""><img id="jcryb6q5jamh3fnfd0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1auxmzQskOVXsMXPfh1XQdFxEzo9JZ0vhteAjpoxWoC9tzHWHjp5WT0CAunxFVyC.jpeg" alt="Aerial View Over Antrim Coastline, , Northern Ireland" title="Aerial View Over Antrim Coastline, , Northern Ireland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1auxmzQskOVXsMXPfh1XQdFxEzo9JZ0vhteAjpoxWoC9tzHWHjp5WT0CAunxFVyC.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Irish aquaculture in 2025 is a sector full of promise but tangled in red tape. It’s caught between the demand for sustainable food and the need for fair regulation. The value is already there, €180–200 million annually, but the potential is much greater.</p><p>Fix the licensing logjam, invest in offshore innovation, and support smaller operators with practical grants, and Ireland could lead the world in sustainable seafood.</p><p>If we want a thriving blue economy that complements, not competes with, traditional farming, it’s time to move from talking about balance, to building it.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

Irish Aquaculture in 2025: Balancing Growth and Sustainability

Climate change. limiting global warming. Limit global warming "2°C" to "1.5°C"

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>A new global climate analysis has made one thing clear: international action still makes a difference. If countries actually stick to their Paris Agreement promises, the global deal struck in 2015 where almost every nation agreed to limit warming to “well below 2 °C” and aim for 1.5 °C, the world could avoid around 57 extreme-heat days every year.</p><p>Without it, we could be facing double that number, more than a hundred scorchers annually by the end of the century. At first, that might sound far away or a bit abstract. But for farmers here in Ireland, those figures are anything but. The difference between two and four degrees of warming isn’t academic, it’s the difference between being able to adapt and being pushed to breaking point.</p><p>Every degree matters. Every hot day avoided buys a little more breathing room for the land, the animals, and the people who depend on them.</p><figure id="figure-eaktfywwcmgthgdbj" class=""><img id="eaktfywwcmgthgdbj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/11nN8jWrnDqRXNTQ5rbbLdT7f7ic1BXnwzO1t1qPMRYEDG7soJpkAs3xurNx93kM.jpeg" alt="Track through fields" title="Track through fields" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/11nN8jWrnDqRXNTQ5rbbLdT7f7ic1BXnwzO1t1qPMRYEDG7soJpkAs3xurNx93kM.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>What 57 Hot Days Actually Means on a Farm</h3><p>Fewer hot days might sound like good news for the holidaymakers, but for those working the land, it’s about survival, not sunshine.</p><p>When temperatures tip past 25 °C, livestock begin to struggle. Cows eat less, drink more, and start to lose condition. Milk yields can fall by as much as 10–15% during a heatwave. Calves can become restless, and dairy herds get harder to manage. Avoiding even a few weeks of that heat means steadier performance and less stress across the yard.</p><p>Then there’s the grass. Irish grass is made for mild, damp weather, not baking heat. Once temperatures climb, growth stalls, soil dries out, and recovery slows. Every “extra” hot day is one where the field gives back less. Avoiding 57 of those each year isn’t a statistic, it’s a season’s difference in feed and forage.</p><p>And let’s not forget the people behind it all. Silage cutting, reseeding, or spraying in sweltering conditions just isn’t feasible. When you can’t safely work outdoors, even the most organised farm calendar starts to unravel. A few cooler days here and there mean more flexibility and fewer missed opportunities.</p><figure id="figure-3xopij4gmpmgthiasr" class=""><img id="3xopij4gmpmgthiasr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3UzgmNPxXVNYMd7ze1TIWoXbBxSLx7LEkRhL745xPRSKtSoQQasgrKHb2Zfo0PmU.jpeg" alt="Fence casting shadows on a road leading to small house between scenic Cornish fields under blue sky, Cornwall, England" title="Fence casting shadows on a road leading to small house between scenic Cornish fields under blue sky, Cornwall, England" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3UzgmNPxXVNYMd7ze1TIWoXbBxSLx7LEkRhL745xPRSKtSoQQasgrKHb2Zfo0PmU.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Ireland’s Climate Crossroads<br></h3><p>Agriculture now accounts for about 38% of Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from methane produced by livestock and nitrous oxide from soils. While there’s been some progress, agricultural emissions dropped by nearly 5% in 2023,&nbsp; farming still carries the biggest share of the national climate load.</p><p>Ireland has committed to cutting agricultural emissions by 25% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. That’s a steep climb, and it can’t be achieved through policy statements alone. It means big changes in how we manage grasslands, fertiliser, slurry, and breeding. It also means rethinking how we use water, energy, and even shade,&nbsp; things Irish farmers have never had to plan for in the past.</p><figure id="figure-wg44wdt1dmgthl35a"><img id="wg44wdt1dmgthl35a" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1djnktDWNWlkgnYjetE9hgsC36DStdH0BShF8QgMamZtD7SG9P2aMA2xyAdq7FMq.jpeg" alt="Dry stone wall seperated farm land on Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry" title="Dry stone wall seperated farm land on Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1djnktDWNWlkgnYjetE9hgsC36DStdH0BShF8QgMamZtD7SG9P2aMA2xyAdq7FMq.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Adapting Before It’s Too Late<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Even if global efforts succeed, a warmer, less predictable climate is already locked in. Farmers who start adapting now will fare far better than those who wait. Here are some proven steps making a real difference on Irish farms:</p><ul><li><strong>Shade and water access: </strong>Simple structures like field shelters, hedges, or tree lines can reduce heat stress significantly for livestock.</li><li><strong>Forage resilience:</strong> Multi-species swards and deeper-rooted grasses can maintain growth when surface soils dry out.</li><li><strong>Water management:</strong> Rainwater harvesting and efficient trough systems can help during dry spells.</li><li><strong>Timing and flexibility:</strong> Planning key operations outside predicted heat windows can prevent yield losses.</li><li><strong>Soil and biodiversity co-benefits:</strong> Adding trees, hedges, and buffer zones not only stores carbon but also protects against heat and erosion.</li></ul><p><br>These steps don’t require high-tech solutions or major investment, they’re practical, low-cost measures that protect the farm against a changing climate.</p><figure id="figure-6dcw0cs48fmgthqzsz" class=""><img id="6dcw0cs48fmgthqzsz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24NDTKVr0WGBzhyaO0OA7Z5DkwvIH50ac4qBQHY4LvOXeL5cYe6bD0YNhUxHtD06.jpeg" alt="Vibrant green pastures stretch across a serene landscape with distant cows grazing under a cloudy sky" title="Vibrant green pastures stretch across a serene landscape with distant cows grazing under a cloudy sky" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/24NDTKVr0WGBzhyaO0OA7Z5DkwvIH50ac4qBQHY4LvOXeL5cYe6bD0YNhUxHtD06.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>What the Science Tells Us<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Even with every Paris pledge delivered, the world is still on course for around 2.6 °C of warming, well above the “safe” 1.5 °C goal. But that difference between 2.6 °C and 4 °C is huge. It’s the gap between a difficult future and an unmanageable one.</p><p>In Ireland, that margin translates to fewer extreme rainfall events, less risk of drought stress on livestock, and more stable growing seasons. It’s also a chance to rethink farm infrastructure before heat, disease, and water scarcity become routine.</p><p>Climate change is also reshaping winters. Extreme cold events are becoming less common, which may slightly reduce frost-related losses, but it also means wetter soils and shorter windows for heavy field work. The challenge is to balance both extremes: too much water in winter, too little in summer.</p><figure id="figure-esnha24n9tmgthsyog" class=""><img id="esnha24n9tmgthsyog" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/4qEUQFwshZjTxxNOU8vllLYK0NU6rvyiRiLPMxSgGNFCDDz8dh4YOcdFL8y9uCvS.jpeg" alt="Screen, people and meteorology with monitor for weather, satellite maps and team to track storm. Control room, back and scientists with forecast for broadcast news, pattern review and climate change" title="Screen, people and meteorology with monitor for weather, satellite maps and team to track storm. Control room, back and scientists with forecast for broadcast news, pattern review and climate change" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/4qEUQFwshZjTxxNOU8vllLYK0NU6rvyiRiLPMxSgGNFCDDz8dh4YOcdFL8y9uCvS.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3><br>The Irish Opportunity<br></h3><p>Ireland’s strength lies in its grass-based systems. With a mild climate, long growing season, and solid infrastructure, we’re better placed than most to adapt.</p><p>Still, not every farmer can afford big investments, and that’s the reality. Rising costs leave little room for new infrastructure or technology. But resilience doesn’t always mean spending big, it often means managing smarter. Simple steps like maintaining drains, sowing clover or multi-species swards, or fencing off wetter ground for regeneration can build resilience at little cost.</p><p>For those in a position to invest, <strong>TAMS and Solar Capital grants</strong> can fund up to 60% of upgrades like solar panels, water systems, and slurry storage. Even small, affordable actions today, adding shelterbelts or improving soil aeration, help future-proof farms for what’s coming.</p><p>Resilience isn’t about money alone; it’s about planning ahead and working with what’s already on the ground.</p><figure id="figure-b6gaw58q1mgthzarl" class=""><img id="b6gaw58q1mgthzarl" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1buYKkJblTliQV2giQ2kX26DKApQaPjRZlZusuuK3dHv4gxcHVugAogXhDwfuTdj.jpeg" alt="Rustic gate leading to a scenic Irish countryside path under the morning sun" title="Rustic gate leading to a scenic Irish countryside path under the morning sun" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1buYKkJblTliQV2giQ2kX26DKApQaPjRZlZusuuK3dHv4gxcHVugAogXhDwfuTdj.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The Paris Agreement won’t fix the weather overnight, but it does prove that global action can still shift the odds in our favour. Avoiding 57 extra hot days a year might sound like a number from a report, but on Irish farms, it means calmer cows, steadier grass growth, and fewer long nights wondering how to keep everything going in relentless heat.</p><p>Irish farming has always been about resilience, taking what the weather throws at us and finding a way through. The next step isn’t about big leaps; it’s about smart, steady changes that protect both the land and the livelihoods built on it. Because while politicians argue over policy and targets, it’s farmers who’ll feel the real impact, in every field, every shed, and every season.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

How the Paris Agreement Benefits Irish Farmers: Avoiding Over 50 Hot Days

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>Irish farming is aging fast. According to the latest CSO data, the average farm holder is 59.4 years old, and nearly 37.8% of farm holders are aged 65 or over. On the flip side, only 4.3% are under 35. Those numbers present a sharp generational challenge: without changes, many farms could lack a viable successor within a decade.</p><p>Farms today are not just fields and animals, but legacies. The question for 2035 is not whether Ireland will still farm, but who will be doing it, and how.</p><figure id="figure-m3dnugp1pvmgkyeyj2" class=""><img id="m3dnugp1pvmgkyeyj2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/fRbLdBV7rQ1ACpoDb7VfHwedBP4iX2ehERu0e7iYlsOi2qzw4TZGkcfPK589fvoC.jpeg" alt="Okay that's enough food for now guys" title="Okay that's enough food for now guys" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/fRbLdBV7rQ1ACpoDb7VfHwedBP4iX2ehERu0e7iYlsOi2qzw4TZGkcfPK589fvoC.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Numbers Behind the Ageing Farm</h3><p>In 2023, Ireland reported 133,174 farms in its Farm Structures Survey. Over the past decade, the number of older farmers has risen, while the cohort under 35 has barely budged. Unless succession accelerates, the sector faces a contraction in family farms over the next ten years.</p><p>Rising land costs do not help. While no single national figure is current and reliable, many areas in Leinster see agricultural land valuations or leases quoted in the €10,000+ per acre range. Such capital barriers make it much harder for new entrants without access to family land or external capital.</p><figure id="figure-nt6gjbxokomgkyg5pr" class=""><img id="nt6gjbxokomgkyg5pr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/378m63AbvuRVAX97ZaMxzAejBnr0R7YYzPzDvp2HwQX0IyaST5XAhkRSOiDJedEd.jpeg" alt="Stone wall patterns and cows on Inishmore, Aran Islands, Ireland" title="Stone wall patterns and cows on Inishmore, Aran Islands, Ireland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/378m63AbvuRVAX97ZaMxzAejBnr0R7YYzPzDvp2HwQX0IyaST5XAhkRSOiDJedEd.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Succession: The Uncomfortable Conversation<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Passing the farm to the next generation is more than transferring assets, it’s about identity, trust, and timing. Despite the importance, many transitions are left late. CSO data shows that less than half of farm holders have a formal succession plan in place.</p><p>This delay matters. Young farmers benefit from Agricultural Relief (reducing inheritance tax liability on qualifying farm assets) and Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Relief, both key tools for keeping farms intact. But these reliefs often require early planning and adherence to strict conditions.</p><figure id="figure-9hqja5btgmgkyiibm" class=""><img id="9hqja5btgmgkyiibm" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/399xwjtNZm4YDnVLDxdX6ENzg9NXn8fc4bL01QwyfJvLMPDOULzDkHpX9r8X8DVe.jpeg" alt="Young woman sitting on a wooden fence resting from their road trip through Ireland to enjoy a splendid landscape of green fields and low clouds" title="Young woman sitting on a wooden fence resting from their road trip through Ireland to enjoy a splendid landscape of green fields and low clouds" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/399xwjtNZm4YDnVLDxdX6ENzg9NXn8fc4bL01QwyfJvLMPDOULzDkHpX9r8X8DVe.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Supports and Incentives: What’s in Place<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>To encourage renewal, Ireland has several supports aimed at younger and transitioning farmers:</p><ul><li><strong>Young Farm Entry &amp; Young Trained Farmer Schemes:</strong>&nbsp;including enhanced payment top-ups under CAP for eligible younger farmers.</li><li><strong>Capital Grants:</strong> for farm buildings, slurry infrastructure, and technology, often with higher rates for younger farmers.</li><li><strong>Tax and Estate Reliefs: </strong>such as Agricultural Relief, which reduces capital acquisitions and inheritance tax burdens on qualifying farm real assets.</li></ul><p><br>But uptake is uneven. Many farmers report that complexities, documentation, and qualifying criteria deter them from accessing these supports, especially if they are juggling full-time farm work alongside other tasks.</p><figure id="figure-saz7qno5amgkykaxw" class=""><img id="saz7qno5amgkykaxw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2blAvu1As4RY0Erex0LtR6SHrBX0cgOhO3jyWynYYTnESEx3MXqgYz7TEAvK45Q1.jpeg" alt="Joyous farmer standing in front of the tractor" title="Joyous farmer standing in front of the tractor" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2blAvu1As4RY0Erex0LtR6SHrBX0cgOhO3jyWynYYTnESEx3MXqgYz7TEAvK45Q1.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Role of Women and Younger Aspirants<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Women now form a growing share of farm holders; in the 2023 survey, 13% of registered farm holders were female. While still a minority, the proportion has increased over past decades, contributing new perspectives and leadership styles to rural Ireland.</p><p>Meanwhile, agricultural education is seeing a resurgence. Teagasc reports record enrollments in Green Cert and Level 6 programmes. That suggests strong interest,&nbsp; but the jump from learning to land is steep if access to capital and land remains limited.</p><figure id="figure-alnxtstc16mgkyltf0" class=""><img id="alnxtstc16mgkyltf0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/27DOxZVtymTXkUu1RCzknDJ02DkVUMo15ZLuQ9e8JRxzd2azXTSRbpNer0uUBDkU.jpeg" alt="Back of teenager's head, looking over straw-colored field" title="Back of teenager's head, looking over straw-colored field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/27DOxZVtymTXkUu1RCzknDJ02DkVUMo15ZLuQ9e8JRxzd2azXTSRbpNer0uUBDkU.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Technology, Efficiency &amp; the Next Generation<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>The farm of 2035 will be different. Precision tools, sensors, automation, and data systems are already gaining traction in Ireland. These technologies may reduce labour burdens and allow smaller teams to manage larger or more complex systems.</p><p>Yet technology alone isn’t a substitute for people. The knowledge, judgment, patience, and generational memory that farmers bring can’t be coded into an app. The next generation needs both tools and mentorship.</p><figure id="figure-jaqr8sk5msmgkyn9xb" class=""><img id="jaqr8sk5msmgkyn9xb" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/33jG3ieOVR8duZNPIr7xWQpmuWFdlfkltSzpGr4HUaGuwLo0FpxVD9CdNS1ix7Ob.jpeg" alt="Digital technology is key to increasing agriculture productivity" title="Digital technology is key to increasing agriculture productivity" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/33jG3ieOVR8duZNPIr7xWQpmuWFdlfkltSzpGr4HUaGuwLo0FpxVD9CdNS1ix7Ob.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Road Forward<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>To ensure a vibrant agricultural sector in 2035, Ireland must focus on several key steps:</p><ul><li><strong>Promote early, structured succession:</strong> families should not wait until retirement.</li><li><strong>Simplify access to reliefs and grants: </strong>reduce paperwork, clarify conditions, and offer case support.</li><li><strong>Support land access models: </strong>long-term leasing, equity partnerships, or farm collaboration could help new entrants.</li><li><strong>Foster a culture of farm innovation:</strong> encourage younger farmers to invest in precision, sustainability, and diversification.</li><li><strong>Encourage inclusion:</strong> women, part-time farmers, and non-traditional entrants all matter in the succession equation.</li></ul><figure id="figure-fhbddgyrxvmgkypidd" class=""><img id="fhbddgyrxvmgkypidd" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2anmgdzXM7jXBBCKZC7nXs7ozQbl1poKnULnoHrVKeq0Y6dXb51ioZnHcDreNmbp.jpeg" alt="Headed off the feed the livestock" title="Headed off the feed the livestock" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2anmgdzXM7jXBBCKZC7nXs7ozQbl1poKnULnoHrVKeq0Y6dXb51ioZnHcDreNmbp.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>It’s easy to think farming is a fixed feature of Ireland’s landscape. But the land does not farm itself, people do. With average farmer age nearly 60 and a shrinking pipeline of younger successors, Ireland faces a pivotal decade.</p><p>Yet I believe we can navigate it. With thoughtful policy and support the next wave of farmers may bring fresh energy, innovation, and rooted commitment to the land. Because the farms of tomorrow deserve stewards, not relics.</p><p><br></p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

The Future of Farming in Ireland: Addressing the Generational Shift

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>New Zealand and Ireland are often compared as small, export-driven farming nations built on grass, livestock, and family enterprise. But over the past two years, New Zealand has become a global example of what can happen when climate policy races ahead of practicality.</p><p>What began as a bold attempt to price on-farm emissions turned into one of the biggest rural protests in a generation. For Ireland, now facing its own environmental tightening, from nitrates limits to CAP compliance, the lessons are worth paying attention to.</p><figure id="figure-psk5sho251mgkwn4x5" class=""><img id="psk5sho251mgkwn4x5" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/38wkahBNJfZZsnoOkVLzDbiWwTfvqM1AQQ9fUAXQHbdLshrg2Wxaq9fvzHosj0ID.jpeg" alt="2025, New Zealand with date block, Concept, Important events for New Zealand the new year, election, economy, social activities, central bank, New Zealand foreign policy" title="2025, New Zealand with date block, Concept, Important events for New Zealand the new year, election, economy, social activities, central bank, New Zealand foreign policy" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/38wkahBNJfZZsnoOkVLzDbiWwTfvqM1AQQ9fUAXQHbdLshrg2Wxaq9fvzHosj0ID.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The New Zealand Experiment — and Why It Faltered<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>In 2023, New Zealand introduced the He Waka Eke Noa plan, a world-first proposal to charge farmers for methane and nitrous oxide emissions from 2025 onward. The aim was to cut agricultural methane by 10% by 2030 and 24–47% by 2050, in line with national climate law.</p><p>It didn’t go to plan. Farmers argued the proposals were rushed, confusing, and economically crippling. Rural protests erupted, with tens of thousands of farmers joining tractor convoys across the country in 2023 and 2024.</p><p>By early 2025, the newly elected government formally scrapped the pricing system, promising to develop a “new, fairer framework.” Yet the core problem remains: agriculture still accounts for about 49% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions, most of it methane from livestock.</p><figure id="figure-293c8hbrnqmgkwqbj2" class=""><img id="293c8hbrnqmgkwqbj2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/269DSH7hNPDlcPWhjSGlNPDCJCV5oYvqlcZPgHB5MHB4aZZQP2NuEKErUREydqZj.jpeg" alt="Shepherd herding sheep into stall after releasing them to graze in rural field" title="Shepherd herding sheep into stall after releasing them to graze in rural field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/269DSH7hNPDlcPWhjSGlNPDCJCV5oYvqlcZPgHB5MHB4aZZQP2NuEKErUREydqZj.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Irish Mirror Image</h3><p>Ireland’s profile isn’t far off. Agriculture is responsible for around 37% of national emissions, the highest share of any EU member state. There are about 7.3 million cattle and 3.6 million sheep in Ireland, close to New Zealand’s 5.9 million dairy cows and 3.7 million beef cattle for roughly the same population size (about 5 million people).</p><p>Ireland also exports roughly 90% of its dairy output and the majority of its beef. In both countries, farm livelihoods depend heavily on global markets, meaning even small policy shocks ripple quickly through local economies.</p><p>The crucial difference is that Irish farmers still receive CAP supports, while New Zealand farmers have operated without subsidies since the mid-1980s. That gives Ireland’s farm sector more financial cushioning,&nbsp; but also means it faces more oversight and environmental conditionality.</p><figure id="figure-v3x3krw4ucmgkwv4xn" class=""><img id="v3x3krw4ucmgkwv4xn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2ckqTChSVv8W6cGchBRKygd4SKbxuOcUCMwA9zJacxITDbgsjlflZDPdYxvVky0w.jpeg" alt="Cattle in Ireland" title="Cattle in Ireland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2ckqTChSVv8W6cGchBRKygd4SKbxuOcUCMwA9zJacxITDbgsjlflZDPdYxvVky0w.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>When Climate Meets Cashflow<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>According to New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission, a farm-level emissions price of €0.02 per kilogram of methane could reduce average farm profits by 5–10% and push many marginal beef and sheep farms below viability.</p><p>In Ireland, Teagasc’s 2024 modelling suggests that achieving the national 25% emissions reduction target by 2030 could cost a typical dairy farm €5,000–€8,000 per year in new compliance, investment, and management costs.</p><p>For beef and sheep farms, where average family farm income sits around €25,000&nbsp; that level of additional cost could be decisive. It’s not that farmers reject climate action; it’s that they can’t absorb poorly designed change.</p><figure id="figure-b9og882zf5mgkxrkhj" class=""><img id="b9og882zf5mgkxrkhj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/5BTRTxKvyDBO7E4ty0OHdMfcc3x6A1fY6UZbnyWD9umRhL8v7hIT2yQi5UP2rZjn.jpeg" alt="Aerial view of a flock of sheep grazing, Aerial view of sea and cliff in Northern Ireland, Tall Cliffs Covered with Greenery Near the Beach in Northern Ireland, Bay towards Carrick-A-Rede coastline in Northern Ireland, Aerial view of natural cliffs" title="Aerial view of a flock of sheep grazing, Aerial view of sea and cliff in Northern Ireland, Tall Cliffs Covered with Greenery Near the Beach in Northern Ireland, Bay towards Carrick-A-Rede coastline in Northern Ireland, Aerial view of natural cliffs" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/5BTRTxKvyDBO7E4ty0OHdMfcc3x6A1fY6UZbnyWD9umRhL8v7hIT2yQi5UP2rZjn.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Policy Lessons: Bring Farmers With You<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>New Zealand’s downfall wasn’t the goal, it was the approach. Farmers felt policy was done to them, not with them. Consultation was promised but often superficial. The result was mistrust and a rapid loss of legitimacy.</p><p>Ireland risks softer versions of the same tension. The nitrates derogation reduction from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha, effective in 2024, hit over 3,000 dairy farmers, forcing some to sell stock, lease more land, or invest heavily in slurry storage. Many now question whether environmental policy is moving faster than the infrastructure and grant systems that support it.</p><p>Without early engagement, clarity, and consistency, even well-intentioned reforms can backfire, as New Zealand learned the hard way.</p><figure id="figure-r9dpa7sokhmgkxt69m" class=""><img id="r9dpa7sokhmgkxt69m" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/129gBaLTbyjsl3dopoXnfKGDWpgu6A8ZZbS7IDD1dwNBdUeScA0MQlUkYHUEsWpV.jpeg" alt="House of parliament at Wellington Capitol of New Zealand. The Beehive" title="House of parliament at Wellington Capitol of New Zealand. The Beehive" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/129gBaLTbyjsl3dopoXnfKGDWpgu6A8ZZbS7IDD1dwNBdUeScA0MQlUkYHUEsWpV.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Innovation: Turning Pressure into Progress<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Not everything from the New Zealand story is negative. Once the pricing proposal collapsed, the focus shifted from taxation to innovation. The government, universities, and private firms ramped up research into low-emission solutions, investing heavily in feed additives, genetics, and soil carbon science.</p><p>Trials using the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis, a methane-reducing feed additive, have shown up to 80% methane reduction in controlled trials, but more realistically 30–40% reductions under real farm conditions.</p><p>Ireland’s own version of this innovation drive is visible in Teagasc’s Signpost Programme and Meth-Quest Project, where farms are trialling additives, clover-based swards, protected urea, and slurry separation systems. If scaled up, such measures could reduce agricultural emissions by 1–2 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually by 2030, roughly the same as taking 200,000–400,000 cars off Irish roads.</p><p>The key lesson? Incentivise innovation, don’t penalise production.</p><figure id="figure-4cl09l9og9mgkxv7p3" class=""><img id="4cl09l9og9mgkxv7p3" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/6pJXUi6yUrmQbikWR17jAQaySAq5MSUEsO2ODj3qZKdtmQuwGOQioeGlfC8SICBF.jpeg" alt="Man with inspection notes on his clipboard" title="Man with inspection notes on his clipboard" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/6pJXUi6yUrmQbikWR17jAQaySAq5MSUEsO2ODj3qZKdtmQuwGOQioeGlfC8SICBF.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Road Ahead for Ireland<br>&nbsp;</h3><p>Ireland still has time to get this right. Farmers have already shown willingness to adopt greener methods when the economics make sense, whether through solar installations, improved nutrient management, or reseeding with multi-species swards. But policy must reward that effort in a way that’s predictable, fair, and proportionate.</p><p>If climate targets become moving goalposts, the credibility gap widens. What’s needed now is stability, multi-year clarity on CAP eco-schemes, practical grant timelines, and transparent carbon accounting that reflects real-world farm efficiency.</p><figure id="figure-5umchj646mgkxwrnw" class=""><img id="5umchj646mgkxwrnw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3araYFne57WogW2OAOMhnbgJLHvlHpGlanz6WBFpqSlUG7Z8glIykUgwv53bkHuI.jpeg" alt="Molls Gap, County Kerry, Ireland" title="Molls Gap, County Kerry, Ireland" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3araYFne57WogW2OAOMhnbgJLHvlHpGlanz6WBFpqSlUG7Z8glIykUgwv53bkHuI.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Conclusion&nbsp;</h3><p>New Zealand’s experience is a warning, not a condemnation. Push too hard without bringing farmers along, and even the greenest intentions can collapse under rural backlash.</p><p>Ireland’s agricultural future depends on getting the balance right, between ambition and practicality, between sustainability and survival. If Irish policy-makers and farm leaders can learn one thing from New Zealand, it’s this: climate action will only succeed when it’s built with the people who live it every day.&nbsp;</p><p>*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.</p>

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