Share farming boost to wellbeing
Tuesday December 01 2009
SHARE farming and partnership may be the best way of addressing the loneliness and isolation associated with farming.
Dr Áine Macken-Walsh, a rural sociologist working with Teagasc, said the weakening of the farm family and the rise of the one-man farm posed a threat to the sustainability of rural areas.
She pointed out that joint farming agreements can reduce isolation by bringing social contact into the workplace and by freeing up time for farmers' social activities.
Noel Clancy, a beef and dairy farmer, entered into a partnership with his neighbour Michael Noonan in Kilworth, Co Cork, in 2006 after extensive research.
"I never appreciated how good a weekend off work was until I experienced it," he said.
However, he warned the two biggest stumbling blocks to setting up the agreement were the Department and the insurance providers.
"We had to merge two herds and get one new herd number, and we expected to walk out of the district veterinary office (DVO) with this but it took three long months.
"The DVO refused to issue a herd number in two names, which caused difficulties such as that the factories issue a cheque to only one name."
On an insurance front he said the public liability issue was "the big issue".
One delegate wanted to know how they solved major disagreements.
"We haven't had one yet," Mr Clancy responded. "Any disagreements we've had are usually about things like who left that gate open.
"If the partnership agreement is done up properly you won't have disagreements about the big things like money and profits.
"However, the two people must be compatible and have to be on the same wavelength," he warned.
Paul Savage from the Department of Agriculture's milk policy division said it had never been easier for farmers to enter into a milk production partnership since the rules had been made more flexible.
He told the conference there were currently 556 farmers registered on the scheme compared to only 13 when it was introduced in 2002.
- Majella O'Sullivan
Irish Independent
