Sector may be prospering, yet seven-in-10 rely on Single Farm Payment

The Single Farm Payment is the primary or secondary source of income for most of those surveyed.

Seven-in-10 of the respondents said they relied on the so-called cheque-in-the-post.

Farming is the greatest source of income for 61% of farmers, off-farm work or investments is 19%, the Single Farm Payment is 14%, and Social Welfare payments represent 4%.

However, a different set of different figures emerged, when farmers were asked to state their second greatest source of income.

A total of 56% said it was the Single Farm Payment, with 25% saying it is farming, and 9% identifying off-farm work or investments.

Direct payments are therefore vital for the economic well-being of thousands.

But importance of the SFP varied from 10% of dairy farmers to 18%-19% in “other” farm enterprises and the no off-farm income category.

Farming was the most important income source for 73% in the no off-farm income category, but only 34% in the “other” farm enterprises category (for whom social welfare was important in 9% of cases).

More than half (53%) of those surveyed revealed that they or their spouses have no off-farm income, a reflection perhaps on the slump in the general economy reducing off-farm work opportunities.

But 47% do have off-farm income — with 23% actually having another job, while 21% of farmers’ spouses work off-farm.

The findings confirm that fewer farmers’ spouses work away from the home than in the average Irish family.

The breakdown of the number of farmers who have another job shows an interesting contrast between the various agricultural enterprises.

Not surprisingly, a mere 13% of dairy farmers have a second job, obviously due to the demands of twice daily milking and other work routines.

Cattle farmers (27%) and “others” (32%) have the highest numbers with an off-farm income, with those in tillage enterprises accounting for only 16%.

The greatest proportion of income for 61% of respondents comes from farming itself, and just a fifth indicate that they primarily survive on their off-farm work or investments.

The Single Farm Payment is particularly important, regarded as a source of income by 83% of farmers and the primary or secondary source by 70%. Thus, many farmers are dependent upon support payments, notwithstanding the relative prosperity of the sector, and half still choose to maintain another occupation off the farm, maybe by choice but certainly to boost the family finances.