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Auto-enrolment: What farmers are telling us in 2026
With Auto-enrolment (AE) now officially underway as of January 2026, farmers are beginning to reckon with the practical realities that the new rules bring to their businesses.
Last year’s survey painted a picture of uncertainty, with a sizeable portion of farmers unaware that AE even existed. That fog hasn’t fully lifted - but the latest responses give us a clearer sense of where the agricultural community stands.
This article features in our Irish Farm Report 2026.
Discover more insights like this from Ifac's eighth annual survey capturing the experiences, concerns, and ambitions of farm families across Ireland – Download Now!
A community still getting to grips with Auto-enrolment
Nationally, opinions on contributing to employees’ pensions under AE are sharply divided.
• 25% supportive - seeing it as a positive step for employee welfare
• 31% neutral - accepting the concept but nervous about the costs
• 12% opposed - worried about the financial strain
• 32% not familiar with the requirement and looking for more information
In other words, one in three farmers still doesn’t fully understand AE - a remarkable figure at this stage.
It mirrors the story we saw in the 2025 report, where 40% admitted they were unaware of the upcoming legislation. That unfamiliarity has eased only marginally - the dial has barely budged.
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Farmers broader pension concerns
The survey also revealed telling insights beyond AE itself:
• Just 13% feel very confident their private pension will provide enough income in retirement.
• 31% feel somewhat confident.
• 21% are not confident.
• 11% are unsure.
• 24% have no pension plan at all.
This paints a stark picture: nearly half of farmers either lack confidence in their pension or don’t have one. For a sector where retirement and succession planning are intertwined with land, legacy and family dynamics, that’s worrying.
Meanwhile, 60% believe that having their own pension would make it easier to manage the future succession of the farm - a nod to the emotional and financial tangle that comes with passing land to the next generation.
What this means for Auto-enrolment in 2026
Three themes emerge from the data:
1. Knowledge gaps remain stubbornly wide
Despite media coverage and government announcements, many farmers still haven’t had AE explained in practical, plainspoken terms.
2. Costs are the lightning rod
Neutral respondents - the largest group - accept the idea of AE but worry about the ongoing strain on payroll, especially in labour-intensive sectors or during poor price cycles.
3. Support is present, but tentative
Roughly one in four farmers supports AE. That’s not insignificant, especially in a sector known for caution around mandatory schemes. But the support hasn’t grown meaningfully in a year.
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A Practical Way Forward
Whether a farmer is enthusiastic or uneasy, AE is coming.
Employers will be required to contribute 1.5% of salary initially, rising to 6% by year 10, and employees earning over €20,000 between ages 23 and 60 will be automatically enrolled unless they’re already in a qualifying occupational pension scheme.
For many, the real question isn’t whether AE is good or bad - it’s whether to rely on the State’s AE system or opt instead for an occupational pension scheme tailored to the rhythms of farm businesses.
The 2026 results suggest farmers want clarity, fairness, and a solution that doesn’t turn payroll into a game of mental gymnastics.
Final thoughts
Farmers aren’t resistant to change; they simply prefer to understand what’s involved before taking action. So far, AE has been like hearing a neighbour’s new dog barking through the fence – you know it’s around, but you’d rather get a good look at it first to judge whether it’s friendly.
The message from this year’s findings is unmistakable: farmers need clearer information, better guidance, and straight answers about AE.
Now that AE has officially begun, that guidance is more crucial than ever.
This article features in our Irish Farm Report 2026.
Discover more insights like this from Ifac's eighth annual survey capturing the experiences, concerns, and ambitions of farm families across Ireland – Download Now!
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