EU farmers upbeat about economic future

European farmer economic optimism rose in Q1 2017 relative to 2016, when spirits hit an all-time low, a survey by the joint EU-wide farmer unions Copa and Cogeca has found.

Copa-Cogeca’s analysis of the Multinational Farmers’ Confidence Index of 8,000 farmers in ten EU states links farmer optimism with sustained demand for dairy products and modest growth in EU milk production, plus growth in EU meat exports.

Pigmeat exports, however, are likely to fall due to lower production and the consequent increase in prices.