Vast majority of farmers indicate they are fairly happy with their lot

A whopping 79% would not change their life or occupation, if they had a second chance.

Only about one in 10 farmers would have preferred a path different to farming.

The vast majority is clearly happy with their lot — and that applies to both men and women.

Only 3% of spouses would not choose farming, according to these particular findings. They are in keeping with the overall optimistic outlook of respondents.

A massive 95% strongly agreed or agreed that Ireland is a great country in which to live.

However, most farmers are cutting back in the current economic climate, but, excluding ‘large purchases’, the cutbacks reported in farm households are low.

The largest percentage (57%) cut back relates to ‘large purchases’, followed by eating out (27%), going to the pub (21%), and family holidays (21%).

While 62% feel that agricultural policies are a key concern, many are also motivated by more everyday and general issues. These include cost of living (50%), unemployment (49%), austerity/debt (48%), and emigration (38%).

But perhaps the findings that say more than any other about the impact of the recession on farmers are that 8% of those surveyed have cut back on health insurance; but 19% made none of the 12 cutbacks suggested in the survey. Thirteen per cent say they had bought in less fertiliser, and 8% said they had bought in less fodder, in the previous 12 months.