The average farm income in 2017 was highest in the southeast and south at €47,147 and €42,340 respectively, and lowest in the border and west regions at €17,547 and €17,895 respectively.

It is important to note the biggest increase in off-farm employment has been in border and west regions, which have the lowest incomes.

51% of farm households were in receipt of an off-farm employment income source in 2017, which is a 2% increase from the 2016 figure.

This increase is largely down to the hike in numbers of both farm holders and spouses employed off-farm in 2017. Farm holders account for 31% and spouses make up for 50% of the increase.

Pension

A further 27% of households are in receipt of a pension. This figure is highest on dry stock farms at approximately 32%, which is almost three times more than dairy farmers at 11%. In the tillage sector, 22% are receiving a pension.

Regions

On the other hand, only 16% of farmers in the southwest had an off-farm job.

The BMW region (border, midland and west) has the highest amount of farmers working part-time, with the border at 38%, the midlands at 32% and the west highest at 40%.

Read More

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Farm Survey 2017: increased incomes on tillage farms, but less area planted