A higher margin needs to come to the primary producer if farming is to remain viable and profitable in the future.

That is according to Trevor Boland, a part-time suckler to beef farmer from Co Sligo. He uses his farm to supplement his off-farm income.

Trevor, who has a fragmented farm, said: "The suckler farm is key to the farm and it is key to keeping jobs in rural areas. I've lived in rural Ireland all my life and if you keep jobs in rural areas people will stay there."