Land costs make Irish farming less competitive

THE high cost of land is a potential barrier to the future competitive-ness of Irish farming, according to a Teagasc study.

Dr Fiona Thorne, Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre, examined the relative competitiveness of agricultural production in Ireland and selected EU member states, during the period 1996-2000, for the detailed report.

She found that high land and labour costs are having a major impact on the competitiveness of Irish agriculture.