Part-timers struggle to keep their heads above water

It should not be overlooked that most drystock farms are part-time operations.

Drystock farmers make up most of the 28% of all Irish farms where the farmer has an off-farm job, and most of the 51% of farms where either the holder and/or spouse has an off-farm job.

These are 2013 figures, both marginally higher than in 2012, a sign of economic revival which will hopefully allow more farmers take up off-farm jobs which are likely to be much more rewarding than cattle farming.