Agricultural income rises by 2.2% in 2003

THERE were mixed fortunes for farmers involved in major enterprises in 2003. Beef and tillage producers experienced some upturn in margins, but dairy, sheep and pig farmers all suffered a drop.

A Central Statistics Office (CSO) provisional estimate shows that agricultural income in 2003 increased by 2.2% on the previous year.

Cattle value output increased by 5.5% or €64m. This was largely due to an increase in slaughterings in 2003 over 2002.