Poots confirms progress of Land Mobility programme

He said: “It is clear that we have an ageing farming population, with significant numbers not having identified a successor to the farm business. I recognise that succession planning is a highly emotive and personal issue for many farm businesses and therefore it is important that there is appropriate succession planning advice and support.

“I am pleased to see the progress of the YFCU Land Mobility Scheme over the initial two year period and look forward to seeing how this initiative will continue to grow and develop over the next two years in support of our industry.”

The Land Mobility Programme was launched as a pilot project in 2017. On the back of the success achieved during its initial two-year phase, the initiative was extended for a further period last November.

Land Mobility was established to help create a culture of longer term land leasing in Northern Ireland while, at the same time, developing much-needed opportunities for young people wanting to develop careers in production agriculture.

John McCallister, the man who heads-up Land Mobility, welcomed Edwin Poots’ support for the programme.

He said: “DAERA and a wide range of stakeholders across the entire farming and food spectrum are now funding Land Mobility.

“Their support is making a real and positive difference in helping to generate productive careers for young farmers while also allowing farming families to approach the subject of succession in a constructive manner.

“The Minister’s comments further highlight the need for the Land Mobility programme to further develop its influence across the entire spectrum of production agriculture.

“The good news is that it is succeeding, where all these objectives are concerned. And this will continue to be my sole focus during the period ahead.”

McCallister highlighted the need for political support to bring about much needed tax changes that would further boost the work of the Land Mobility programme and the means by which farm succession is effected in Northern Ireland.

He commented: “Such steps have already been taken in the Republic of Ireland. By common consent these changes have made a real and positive difference, where land mobility is concerned.

“Tax is not a devolved matter in the UK. However, there is very good reason for Edwin Poots and his colleagues in the Stormont Executive to lobby now in order to secure tax changes that would genuinely facilitate the ways in which farm succession are implemented here in Northern Ireland.”

He further explained: “We still have to work through the full impact of Brexit. And the Covid-19 challenge has further exacerbated this matter.

“Never before has there been a need to review the structure of our farming sectors in such a fundamental way.

“The average farmer age is still far too high. We need to find a way of encouraging more people into our industry while maintaining the full use of the infrastructure that is already on the ground.

“This will necessitate huge change on the part of all those involved in production agriculture. However, the Land Mobility Programme can help provide the means by which all of these changes can be achieved.”

He concluded: “The number of people contacting me continues to gain momentum. All demographics are included, with the numbers seeking to transition out of production agriculture being matched with those wanting to develop new careers within the industry.

“It’s now a question of building on all of this for the future.”

For further information, contact John McCallister on 07833 668602 or email: [email protected].