Economic downturn hitting part-time farmers hard, research shows

THE economic downturn is hitting part-time farmers hard, according to an assessment by a Teagasc researcher.

David Meredith pointed out the numbers employed in agriculture are declining and so too are the off-farm jobs held by part-time farmers.

The total number of people employed in agriculture declined from 115,000 at the end of 2008 to 98,000 during 2009.