The two Government parties have lost their majority support among Ireland’s farming population for the first time.

The latest Irish Farmers Journalreader survey revealed that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have both lost support since 2024, and now only command 49% of the farming vote between them, almost half of the 86% they once collectively held.

While Fine Gael’s 31% is a 6% drop on the November 2024 survey result, they continue to lead the way among farmers. Fianna Fáil is sure to be concerned with the fact that its 18% support is a 5% drop on last time out.

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Independent Ireland

In fact, a doubling in Independent Ireland’s popularity among farmers to 20% means Fianna Fáil has been demoted to third place. Independent candidates are on 17%.

The other big winner is Aontú, which has trebled its support base from 2% to 6%. This has propelled it past Sinn Féin, which has failed to capitalise from the migration of support from the Government parties and lies fifth, with 5%.

The survey collated the views of over 1,000 farmers, with every sector and regional demographic represented. The changes in support levels are the most dramatic in the two decades of polls and surveys conducted by the Irish Farmers Journal, and may well reflect farmer anger over fuel prices, rising input costs and CAP.