Sheep was the enterprise achieving the highest growth in its gross margin per hectare last year, according to new analysis of the National Farm Survey (NFS) published by Teagasc. With fixed costs broadly stable, net profitability more than doubled. Cattle finishing, too, saw its gross margin per hectare rise by 18%. This means beef farming returned to net profitability.
Sheep was the enterprise achieving the highest growth in its gross margin per hectare last year, according to new analysis of the National Farm Survey (NFS) published by Teagasc.
With fixed costs broadly stable, net profitability more than doubled. Cattle finishing, too, saw its gross margin per hectare rise by 18%. This means beef farming returned to net profitability.
All other enterprises in the NFS returned decreasing profitability last year. Gross margins per hectare were down 4% for spring barley and 6% for winter wheat, 7% for sucklers and 18% for dairying as milk prices hit rock bottom.
The latest analysis focuses on types of enterprises rather than individual farms.
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