A Macra na Feirme survey has revealed high levels of dissatisfaction with the Government and rising fears over stress and depression in rural areas.
The survey of 101 of the country's most successful young farmers - participants of the Young Farmer of the Future competition - found a 74 per cent dissatisfaction rate with the accomplishments of the current Government.
Only 22 per cent of respondents - an overwhelming 96 per cent male - said they were satisfied, while no one questioned said they were "very satisfied" with the performance of the Government.
Views were split on CAP reform. Of those surveyed, 39 per cent said new deal would be damaging for Irish agriculture; 35 per cent said it would not be damaging and 26 per cent said were undecided.
According to the survey, 82 per cent of Ireland's young farmers believe that stress and depression is a concern to young people in rural areas. A further 69 per cent said that not enough is being done to address the problem.
Macra na Feirme president Mr Thomas Honner said: "These results are very worrying as the respondents to this survey are representative of the wider rural community."
He said "Stress and depression are being recognised as areas of major concern in rural areas, specifically in relation to the rise in suicide amongst young men. While the problems of stress and depression are by no means restricted to rural Ireland, I believe they can potentially have a more devastating effect in remote areas of the country where help may be more difficult to find."
On the upcoming ban on smoking, 73 per cent agreed the ban was a good idea; 17 per cent did not agree with the ban and 10 per cent responded "don't know".