Stabilisation in farm incomes reported

Average farm incomes in Ireland stabilised this year, according to the Department of Agriculture’s end-of-year review for 2003.

The document said 2003 was generally a good year for Irish agriculture, with the dairy sector expanding by 0.6% and the value of output in the cattle sector increasing by 5.5%.

Beef exports also increased by 32% to 445,000 tonnes.

However, the value of the pig sector fell by 9% and the sheep sector by 6%.

The Department of Agriculture said 180 BSE cases had been detected so far in 2003, compared to 333 in all of last year, while TB figures were expected be below 29,000.

Total direct payments to farmers were also expected to reach around €1.6bn by the end of the year.