45% rise in applicants for college courses in agriculture

RISING confidence among students and their parents about job prospects in the agri-food sector is reflected in a 45% increase in applications for the top third-level courses in agriculture and horticulture.

However, the jump from 904 to 1314 applications is only 1.8% of the 71,466 applications to the Central Applications Office.

Those attracted to agriculture by news of booming farm income released last December were in for an early disappointment. At the time the CSO indicated a 46% increase in farm incomes for 2010, but that has been revised to 31.5%, in the second of their three farm income reports issued each year.