Farming survey: Over half of farmers do not have a private pension

An opinion poll finding that just 42% of farmers have a private pension scheme is linked to the volatility of the sector and needs to be tackled by Government, according to one of the country’s largest farming organisations.

The findings show that those farmers who do have a private pension are likely to be middle-aged, while younger farmers — and those who have already reached state pension age — are less likely to have arranged for one.

The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), John Comer, said the Government would need to consider proposals to guard against a pensions timebomb in the agricultural sector.