Insights

Introduction The Climate Action Plan (2024) has set ambitious targets to increase land farmed according to organic standards from the current area of 225,000 ha (5% of total farmed area) to 450,000 ha (10%) by 2030. The largest organic sector in Ireland is beef cattle production. There are an estimated 40,000 organically-farmed suckler cows in […]

Generational renewal in farming is generally understood to mean younger farmers taking over from the older generation in running and owning farms (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – DAFM, 2025).2 It should be seen as a process rather than a single event and it has been described in the literature as a “ladder […]

Teagasc is the primary provider of accredited further (vocational) education for the agricultural and land-based sectors. Teagasc has a major input into higher education and postgraduate education delivery through its extensive partnerships. Teagasc introduced four new apprenticeship programmes for the land-based sector in 2023 and welcomes applications for apprenticeships due to start in September 2026. […]

As land-based industries navigate current and future sustainability challenges and regulations, it is essential that operators and managers are highly skilled. The Irish land-based sector is reliant on skilled farmers and operatives who can cope with such challenges as well as managing day-to-day productions task, work with people and meet business objectives. The next generation […]

High standards of safety, health and welfare can greatly support the creation of a safe working environment. Farmer health and farm safety are closely linked. Physical health, stress and mental health, fatigue, burnout and sleep problems can impact farmer wellbeing and increase the risk of a farm accident. Protecting your health and wellbeing, knowing your […]