NFYFC has welcomed the call for more policy measures for young farmers from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, outlined in a report adopted this week by the EU Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI).

The amended report, by German MEP Albert Dess, details the need for installation aid for young farmers to be made available in all EU Member States; calls for national reserves to be geared more towards young farmers as well as stronger investment in education and training, and also recognises the need for generational renewal in agriculture.

NFYFC, which recently rejoined the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), supported CEJA’s voting recommendations to the COMAGRI committee, and lobbied MEPs on the future of the CAP.

The report, which is the European Parliament’s reaction to last November’s Communication of the Commission, notes that steps to target generational renewal in the sector are needed as just 6 per cent of European farmers are under 35, while 4.5 million farmers will retire over the coming decade.

It acknowledges barriers facing younger farmers such as high investment costs and access to land and credit, and calls for proposals to reverse the trend of rapid aging of the sector, including changes to the rules governing the national reserve so they are better geared towards the young.

The report also stresses the need for education and training opportunities, farm advisory services and exchange of best practices in order to modernise agriculture, encourage innovation, and recommends these kinds of programme should be available throughout the EU.

NFYFC CEJA representative Katherine Sealy said: “While a suggestion of top-ups for young farmers was not taken on board, adoption of this report by the committee makes it clear that young farmers’ concerns are being noted. We hope this review of the Common Agricultural Policy will reap the rewards young farmers and new entrants to the industry have been patiently waiting for over the past decade.”

CEJA president Joris Baecke, who was a guest speaker at NFYFC’s Agriculture & Rural Affairs Forum debate in Blackpool earlier this month, said: “We are pleased that COM AGRI recognises young farmers have obstacles to starting up. MEPs have a real opportunity to champion young farmers in this CAP reform by calling for targeted measures.”

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) is one of the largest youth organisations in the UK. It heads a nationwide body of 659 Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFCs) located throughout England and Wales dedicated to supporting young people in agriculture and the countryside. Their memberships comprise more than 22,000 members aged 10 to 26 and they provide a unique opportunity for members to develop skills, work with the local community, travel abroad, take part in a varied competitions programme and enjoy a dynamic social life. There are a further 1,100 associate members, many of whom are involved in the running of the clubs and NFYFC. For more information about NFYFC, visit www.nfyfc.org.uk.