Some 41% of cattle farms have been deemed as vulnerable in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, meaning that they have poor long-term futures, with low economic returns and farmers at risk of isolation.
The survey is based on a data collected in 2019, and continues to highlight the wide disparity between cattle and sheep farming compared to tillage and dairy farming. The report – authored by Cathal Buckley and Trevor Donnellan – shows that 41% of both cattle and sheep farms were considered “vulnerable”– meaning they are a non-viable farm business with no off- farm employment.
This compared to just 12% of dairy farms and 18% of tillage farms.
Buckley said that this was similar to what had been reported in previous surveys over the years.
Isolation
In addition, 22% of cattle farmers where classed as being at risk by isolation, where the farmer lived alone, and this figure was higher on farms where profitability was lower.
This was also the case on sheep farms, where 23% of farmers were classed as being at of isolation and this figure was again significantly higher on poorer economically performing farms.
Just 6% of dairy farms were classed as being a risk of isolation, and 15% were identified as having a high age profile. Some 18% of tillage farms were considered economically vulnerable and 18% were also at risk of isolation, where the farmer lived alone.
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