Farm incomes face decline

INDUSTRIAL workers’ annual earnings are almost twice average farmer incomes but both earn far less than public service employees, figures released yesterday for 2003 reveal.

Average farm income in 2003 was about €15,500. For the two-thirds of farmers who do not have an off-farm job it was about €19,000. Average industrial earnings were about €27,200 and average public service employee income was about €39,000.

Beef and tillage producers had some upturn in margins last year, but dairy, sheep and pig farmers suffered a drop.