IFA president Joe Healy said the budget responded positively to IFA’s farm income campaign, with low-cost loans, increased funding for farm schemes, reversal of Farm Assist cuts, and flexibility on income averaging.

More assistance to small farmers to keep their farms viable is the main feature of Labour’s plan for agriculture.

Many farm assist recipients have been given only 14 days to return forms verifying their total annual income.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton says she has no plans to reverse changes to how farm assist is now assessed, despite pressure from Dáil members and from farmer groups.