A new study focusing specifically on the country’s 50,000 small farms shows that the average income on Ireland’s smallest farms is just €2,917. Small farms are defined as those with less than €8,000 of agricultural output, such as 14 suckler cows or less.
A new study focusing specifically on the country’s 50,000 small farms shows that the average income on Ireland’s smallest farms is just €2,917.
Small farms are defined as those with less than €8,000 of agricultural output, such as 14 suckler cows or less.
Some 45% of those farmers have another source of employment and one-third of the farmers are aged 65 or older.
Most of the country’s small farms are cattle and sheep farms spread across the border and western regions, and they account for 37% of all farms nationally.
Continue farming
Despite being economically vulnerable, 80% of small farmers said they intend to continue farming.
The figures were revealed at a conference on rural viability at Teagasc Ashtown, Dublin, on Thursday.
Teagasc economist Dr Emma Dillon explained that “The average size of small farms is just 14ha and, as a result, their farm incomes are very low due to both their small size and low intensity of production.”
She highlighted that with one-third of the small farmers aged 65 and over, a large number of them rely on pensions and social welfare.
Number of livestock farmers down by over 4,000 since 2011
Average suckler farmer earning little without income support payments
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