Farming survey: Numbers involved in dairy sector continue to decline

As ever, the 2017 Irish Examiner/ICMSA farming survey provides an invaluable and interesting snapshot of current attitudes and opinions, writes Larry Ryan.

We see reassuringly consistent data about farmers and their holdings, but also subtle attitudinal shifts in response to the changing social and economic climate.

It is interesting to note that the numbers with some involvement in the dairy sector have continued to decline, with just a quarter now milking cows.