22nd February 2008

GERRY SCULLY

National Rural Development Conference

Embracing Change

Change:

Social

Regulatory

TOPICS

Changes at Farm Level

New Land Owners

Changes in Teagasc

RD Programme - Axis 3

Take Home Message

CHANGE

Full Employment

55% work off-farm

70% by 2015

Farmers:

Managing the Land Resource

Viability of Households

Sustainability of the Countryside

New Land Owners

14% under 40 years old

Workplace to Farming

Land Prices West/North-West

Source: KnightFrank,2008

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Typical Week…….

Work/Life Balance……

Off-Farm Jobs

1 in 4 work in construction

Challenge to Teagasc

Land Use and Business skills to:

• Optimise Income

• Get Work/Life Balance Right

and

200718 Area Units

• 4 Programmes

Business & TechnologyGood Farming PracticeRural DevelopmentAdult Training

• Farm System Options

• Diversification Options

• Business Ideas

• Training Opportunities

Rural Development Programme Axis 3 - Diversification

“create alternative on-farm opportunities in non-agricultural activities and services”

Axis 3 cont….

Target Group- “any member of the farm household”

• Who?

• What?

€27,400 every working day for

5 years

Delivering Axis 3

and

Take Home Message

New farmers with two Resources:

• Land• New Skills

Partnership Approach to Axis 3 Delivery

Thank You