IFA chief economist predicts increase in producer prices

HIGHER producer prices are expected this year after the collapse in farm incomes in 2009, but challenges posed by a weak sterling and credit access are expected to remain for some months.

Those are the key predictions of Irish Farmers’ Association chief economist Rowena Dwyer after prices fell for almost all commodities last year.

She said there are signs that the global recovery and resulting increasing demand will lead to higher producer prices in 2010.