Teagasc has warned that a no-deal Brexit will mean a €690m hit to the agriculture sector next year with average farm incomes decreasing by 18%.

For beef farmers if no-deal tariffs are applied, exports to the UK are expected to drop by 20% – an extremely worrying figure given almost half of Irish beef goes to that market.

Pig exports would drop by 6% and dairy exports by 7%.

Speaking during the annual Teagasc Outlook conference, director Gerry Boyle advised that there were still hopes of reaching a Brexit deal before the end of the year but the figures were worrying.