AGRICULTURE:THE IMPORTANCE of the equine industry to Ireland was stressed yesterday by Irish Farmers' Association president John Bryan, who said many farmers are involved in the industry and need the additional income the sector provides.
He told journalists at the RDS Irish agriculture was about how the Government would treat the youth in the future and how it could handle the tax and other issues surrounding this.
He said farmers should not be penalised if they hand over farms to their children early, something that was vital if agriculture was to prosper in the future, whether it was on dairy, beef or cereal farms, or those on which horses are reared.
The IFA leader said the demand for places in agriculture colleges this year was very heartening following years when young people were forced into a position where they would not dare show their interest in agriculture.
“Next month, our agriculture colleges will be taking in the highest number of students since the mid-1990s,” he said.
“At a time when the forced emigration of thousands of young Irish people is leaving a void in this country, this group will play a key role in rejuvenating the farming sector by lowering the age profile.”
He appealed to the Government not to change the current situation to one in which farmers would have to borrow money to allow the transfer of land to their children. He said such a move would be an impediment to progress.
He said any reduction or removal of key farm tax measures would have the effect of reducing farm transfers to the next generation, impacting on both the productivity and growth potential of the agriculture sector.
The second day of the Dublin Horse Show saw another large attendance at the grounds, with hundreds of women from across the country competing in the Ladies’ Day competition.
The winner of the competition, with its €10,000 prize, was Yvette Byrne from Co Carlow, who took the honours with an outfit she designed herself. The best dressed man award went to Adam Kelly of Ashford, Co Wicklow.
The greatest interest yesterday in the equestrian area was on the running order for the FEI Nations Cup, which will take place today for the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy.
Ireland was drawn in seventh place, which is, according to jumping experts, not a bad position in such a competition, in which eight nations are taking part.
In pole position will be France, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. The US is drawn next, followed by Britain, with the final slot going to Germany, one of the favourites to win the trophy.
Today, which is traditionally the biggest day of the show, more than 30,000 people are expected to attend for the Nations Cup.
President Mary McAleese will meet the teams before the competition and will present the trophy to the winning team. It will be her last visit to the RDS as President and the occasion will be marked by the society.