Farms ‘need extra income’

JUST one in five farms is now sustained solely by farming, according to the Teagasc farm income survey published this week.

Teagasc figures from the study revealed that, on 78% of holdings, the farmer and/or spouse had some other source of income.

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said the survey study highlighted the vulnerability of income, should there be any significant change in the direct payment regime.