Survey: Average farm income up 48% in 2010

FARMERS are taking an optimistic view of future opportunities for the agri-food sector, according to the Teagasc National Farm Survey results for 2010.

Teagasc’s analysis of the annual accounts of 1,000 Irish farming households brought good news for dairy and tillage farmers in particular, who enjoyed a 92% jump in income after a disastrous 2009.

Average farm income increased by 48% in 2010, bringing the average income figure for the farming sector in 2010 to €18,000. This incorporates the thousands of cattle and sheep farmers whose incomes remained stable, rising just 7%-8%.