Garrett O’Brien has 200 cows on his farm in Co Tipperary, which has been in the family for generations.
He said he is trying to pass it on to the next generation, but highlighted a “tough” 12 months for farmers due to bad weather and competition from big businesses buying land.
The father of four boys, aged five to 10, said it was stressful to manage volatility in farm costs and prices while providing for his family.
“You put your family first and you try and juggle everything else after that and this winter looks like a long winter,” he said.
“Costs have gone through the roof and there’s been no give-up in the last 12 months. It’s been constant pressure the whole time.”
He said the Budget change to the income tax threshold by €2,000 to €44,000 euro was “a small improvement” and that the two double child benefit payments and €250 electricity credits would be a help.
“There is a lot of things from the cost-of-living package that are all a help, but it’s a little short-sighted that they are one-off lump payments.
“Obviously there is an election coming up so they’re trying to keep it fresh in people’s minds.”
But he said the cost-of-living package was only a “drop in the ocean to most people”.
“It’s a help but it’s not going to make a whole lot of difference,” he added. “They’re very short term and we will take them when they’re going, but it doesn’t do anything in the long term.
“Milk price has gone up, but the amount of inputs and costs have gone up as well so I don’t think you’re any better off, to be honest with you.”
Farmer Garrett O’Brien and his five-year-old son Daniel, on their family farm in Annacarty, Co Tipperary. (Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Mr O’Brien said “there isn’t a whole lot in it from the farming side of things” that will make “a whole lot of difference”.
He said funding boosts for beef and tillage schemes were “nothing new” and there was little to protect farm incomes.
Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced today that officials would examine the possibility of an income volatility measure to support farmers ahead of next year’s Budget.
He said this would involve considering how it would work in line with financial, legal and governance structures.
Mr O’Brien said this could be something positive but farmers need to know what the “fine print” is.
He said of farming succession concerns: “There isn’t much there to attract young people at the minute, when you see the demographic at the minute it’s all older farmers.”
