Dairy the most economically sustainable, tillage leading on environment

Dairy farms are more economically sustainable than those in the drystock sector, although beef and sheep farms generally have better environmental sustainability, Teagasc’s sustainability report for 2021 has found.

The report found that less than half of drystock farms were economically viable, contrasting with high rates of farm viability in the dairy and tillage sectors.

On the environmental front, significant increases were seen in the uptake of liming and low-emission slurry spreading (LESS). The use of protected urea is up, although usage remains low relative to the overall fertiliser makeup.

Teagasc reported that the ammonia emissions per hectare in dairying were more than double those associated with beef farming and more than four times the emissions than if the land had been under tillage.

Some 86% of dairy farms surveyed were classed as economically viable, the highest proportion of any enterprise type.

Dairying had the lowest proportion of farms classed as vulnerable at 7%, with the average income per labour unit on dairy farms working out at €108,209.

The average dairy farmer spread more than two-thirds of their slurry using LESS, while protected urea accounts for just 7% of the nitrogen spread on the average farm.

Dairy farms performing better on economic metrics tended to be those stocked at higher intensities, thus rising their greenhouse gas emissions on an area basis.

Those farming cattle have the lowest farm viability of any sector, with only 27% of cattle farms classed as viable. However, the proportion of cattle farms that are viable rose by half since 2020.

The beef sector had the highest age profile of any sectors.

Just over a fifth of cattle farmers spread lime in 2021 and the amount of slurry that went out with LESS more than doubled on the volume two years ago.

The average income per labour unit amounted to €18,725 for sheep farmers, with 27% of those farming sheep classed as economically vulnerable. Sheep farm viability grew from 25% in 2020 to 39% last year.

Over 30% of sheep farmers reported to be in poor or only fair health, the lowest of any sector. The researchers commented that sheep farmers were also the least likely to have identified someone who could act as a replacement worker on the farm, if needed.

The economic sustainability of tillage farms fell between that of the dairy and drystock sectors, as the average income per labour unit worked out at €75,185 in 2021.

The tillage sector has the highest levels of environmental sustainability in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia emissions and nitrogen balance per hectare.

Some 92% of tillage farmers reported to be in good or very good health, the highest of any other sector.