Farm incomes and the key questions still to be answered

I WAS annoyed over the past couple of days during the debate on farmers’ incomes.

We are getting conflicting views on what farmers earn annually, with our esteemed minister informing us that they average €30,000 and IFA giving a more realistic figure of €15,000.

Both agree that the average industrial wage is €26,000 and average public sector pay is €37,000. But an income of €15,000 is OK apparently for farmers because most of their spouses have a second, non-farming income.