Only 4.3% of farm holders in Ireland are under the age of 35.

Omissions

• The exact figure of 4.3% does not appear in any retrieved source; the sources report the under-35 share rounded to 4% (Teagasc, citing CSO data for 2023) and 'only 4%' (Irish Government's Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming).
• The CSO Farm Structure Survey 2023 reports the mean age of farm holders at 59.4 years and 37.8% aged 65 or over, i.e. the structural context is that the under-35 share is around 4%, not a figure distinctly higher than 4.3%.
• The claim does not specify a reference year; the figure varies slightly by survey year (Census of Agriculture 2020 vs Farm Structure Survey 2023), so the exact percentage depends on the year chosen.
• Sources describing the figure were published after the exact reference period and, in some cases, may be published near or after the session date; the underlying CSO/Eurostat survey data they report predates 20 October 2026.

Sources

• PrimaryCSO — Farm Structure Survey 2023, Demographic Profile of Farm HoldersThe average (mean) age of farm holders in 2023 was 59.4 years. Just over 50 thousand, or more than one third (37.8%) of farm holders were aged [65 and over]. In 2023, there were 115,655 (86.8%) male farm holders and 17,519 (13.2%) female farm holders.
• PrimaryCSO — Census of Agriculture 2020, Preliminary Results, Demographic Profile of Farm HoldersThe proportion of farm holders under 35 has been falling consistently since 1991 but there was a slight increase in the proportion in this youngest age category
• SecondaryTeagasc — 'Farming for the next generation'The share of Irish farmers aged over 65 rose to 38% in 2023 while those aged under 35 fell to 4%.
• SecondaryCommission on Generational Renewal in Farming — Final Report (Government of Ireland)Only 4% of Irish farmers are under 35, while 37% are over 65, creating significant risks for the continuity of family farms, innovation, and rural vitality.