Farming must remain a viable and attractive career for young people according to one local councillor.
The calls from Monaghan councillor Pauric Clerkin who says a new EU focus is a positive signal for what can be put in place to guarantee a vibrant farming future.
Cllr Clerkin believes that farming is not just a tradition to be inherited, but a modern, innovative sector with a strong future at the heart of rural Ireland.
He welcomed the publication of the EU Commission's Generational Renewal Report as a timely and important contribution to one of the greatest challenges facing Irish and European agriculture, ensuring a viable future for the next generation of farmers.
Cllr Clerkin highlighted that the average age of Irish farmers is now 59, and the number of farmers under 35 continues to fall.
