Teagasc has opened its 2026 Farm Business Options Training Programme, offering farmers and farm families practical workshops on diversifying into renewable energy, artisan food production, organic farming and rural tourism. 

The programme was launched at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, and is delivered nationwide in partnership with Local Enterprise Offices and other support organisations.

Details of the programme, confirmed by Teagasc, show the 2026 intake expands on previous years with new field visits, additional topics and enhanced networking opportunities, alongside hands-on business planning guidance from farmers who have already diversified successfully.

Teagasc, Ireland's agriculture authority, employs around 1,100 staff across 55 locations and operates on an annual budget of more than €160 million, with roughly 75% funded through the Irish exchequer and EU sources. Local Enterprise Offices, delivered through local authorities nationwide, provide the regional infrastructure through which the training reaches farmers outside Teagasc's own advisory network.

The structural driver behind the expanded 2026 programme is a sharp fall in farm incomes, with Teagasc forecasting an average family farm income of €33,600 for 2026, down around €20,000 on the previous year, pushing diversification training higher up the advisory agenda.

Kevin Connolly, acting head of farm management and rural development at Teagasc, said the programme is "a cornerstone of Teagasc's mission to empower farmers to innovate and thrive," adding that the workshops are about "unlocking potential, sparking creativity, and building a resilient rural economy."

Barry Caslin, Teagasc energy and rural development specialist, said the programme is "more than just training," describing it as "a movement to drive rural innovation and sustainability" by connecting farmers with the right resources, mentors and networks.

For the sector, the 2026 Farm Business Options programme confirms that structured diversification training is becoming standard advisory provision for Irish farm families, rather than a specialist service reserved for those already planning a new enterprise.

Source: teagasc.ie / agriland.ie