Farm Viability

Enhancing farm viability and competitiveness in all agricultural sectors.

About Farm Viability

Farm Viability and Competitiveness

The National Rural Network (NRN) will highlight the challenges and present good practice models that can support farms and Irish agriculture to remain viable and competitive.

Areas of focus are driven by the NRN’s ongoing networking and priorities of the RDP including:

  • Farm succession and inheritance
  • Women in agriculture
  • Rural business
  • Organic farming.

Rural Services - Expand Your Horizons

As part of ‘Expand Your Horizons 2017 – Reaching Out to Rural Ireland’ Teagasc and the NRN brought together over 20 organisations that offer services in rural Ireland. These included Local Action Groups, Local Enterprise Offices, Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), Education and Training Boards (ETB), Citizens Information, Mental Health Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Fisheries Ireland, Credit Unions, Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland.

These organisations provided a flavour of the opportunities they offer and the role they play in contributing to the viability of rural areas and farms.

An innovative series of evening seminars took place from January to March 2017 to promote the value of rural Ireland and range of services available.  The seminars provided people living and working in rural farming communities with the chance to:

  • Find out their options for farm diversification
  • Consider a new farm business or off-farm enterprise
  • Explore options for retraining for a new job
  • Learn about applying for funding opportunities under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020
  • Find out about how to access LEADER funding.

Check out videos from contributors to Expand Your Horizons.

How do we Transition to Smart Farming in Ireland?

In this guest blog, Dr Peter Mooney and Dr Liadh Kelly, Lecturers in the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University, provide us with a comprehensive insight into the huge potential of Smart Farming Technologies to improve the...

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The Key Aspects of Collaborative Farming

In this guest blog, Paidi Kelly, Research Officer at Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, outlines the growing interest in collaborative farming arrangements in Ireland. He also outlines the key aspects to ensure...

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Key Considerations when Planning Farm Investment

In this guest blog, Eamonn O’Reilly, Agricultural Advisor with AIB Bank, outlines the grant-aid funding available to younger farmers under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II), and its role in helping to meet the considerable capital costs...

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Are you interested in farm viability and
rural development?

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A Farm with a Future

Kilbeggan Organic Foods is a successful family business run by Pat Lalor from his farm in Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath. The Lalors have always grown cereal on Ballard Farm as part of a balanced and sustainable crop rotation. In times gone by their aim was to grow cereals...

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Kilbeggan Organic Foods

Organic oats have been grown at Ballard Organic Farm for several years and because the crop was of such a high standard, it was decided to develop the grain into products which could be marketed under the brand, Kilbeggan Organic Foods. Background Pat Lalor’s...

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Young Trained Farmer Case Study

Supporting young farmers wishing to enter the agricultural sector or improve their farm holdings, is a key priority of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 (https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ruralenvironment/ruraldevelopmentprogrammerdp2014-2020/)....

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FARM VIABILITY USEFUL LINKS

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NRN Partners & Funders

Contact Info

 

Tel: 090 6482744
Email: info@nationalruralnetwork.ie

 

Address

 

Unit 2A Moate Business Park,
Clara Rd, Moate,
Co. Westmeath. N37 W9R0

 

 

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