Intergenerational Considerations for Generational Renewal in Agricultural Research, Policy and Practice

With over one third of European farmers over the age of 65, a newly established social initiative for the farming community in Ireland called `Farmers Yards is helping to address recent calls recently made by the European Commission for an increased emphasis on mechanisms that help older farmers enhance their `quality of life by exploring possibilities under social policy by providing farmers with a platform to come together as a local peer group in a familiar and friendly Livestock Mart (Auction Market) setting. The involvement of Marts in this initiative is extremely important because in addition to their primary function providing a method of buying and selling livestock, the bidding ring and canteen at the mart also provides a vital social facility for local farmers in their area. This is an important shift in focus, as previous policy aimed at stimulating generational renewal in agriculture in Ireland, such as the most recent Early Retirement Scheme for farmers (ERS3), for example, requesting farmers to `cease all agricultural activity forever upon retirement was found to place no regard on the wellbeing of the older generation of the farming, overlooking their identity and social circles in later life. As is the case across the world, many older farmers rely on their weekly visit to the mart to meet with their friends, exchange ideas and catch up on local news. Marts existing position and reputation as a focal point of activity within the heart of rural communities provides them with a ready-made platform and network to diversify their services and establish a social group membership of farmers in their catchment area through the Farmers Yards initiative, thereby playing a central role in addressing social isolation and loneliness in the farming community moving forward.