Farmers lose money, CSO finds

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that in 2011, the average farmer in the border, midland and western regions lost money; their only income came from subsidies.

Net subsidies accounted for 75.7% of agricultural income at state level.

But they were 110.4% of agricultural income in the border, midland and western regions (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon).