Farming Poll 2016: Wind turns against all farmers as dairy balloon deflated

Optimism has ebbed away in farming every year since the Irish Examiner ICMSA farming opinion poll started in 2013.

And in 2016, when 526 respondents were asked about the future of farming in general, pessimism rises from 10% to 265.

Face-to-face interviews for the poll took place with the 526 farmers at agricultural shows in the second half of August, and only 60% this year said they were very optimistic or slightly optimistic, compared to 79% in 2013.