The number of farmers employed directly in farming has declined by 5.2% Photo: Ramona Farrelly
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Farming directly employs 69,375 workers and is the second-highest occupational group in Ireland, making up 3.5% of the workforce, according to 2016 figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
However, the number of farmers employed directly in farming has declined by 5.2% since 2011.
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There are an estimated 139,600 farms in Ireland. Therefore, the CSO figures would indicate that more farmers are taking some form of off-farm employment to supplement their incomes.
Farm incomes
Teagasc reported that farm incomes increased by 37% in 2017. However, that increase was largely driven by the dairy sector.
The increase in milk price for 2017 drove the average farm income to roughly €31,900 compared with €23,500 in 2016.
Many industry experts have now commented that dairy farming is in a league of its own, in terms of farm income.
On average, dairy farmers received €1,800/ha compared with €-16/ha for suckler farmers and €-3/ha for beef finishers.
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Farming directly employs 69,375 workers and is the second-highest occupational group in Ireland, making up 3.5% of the workforce, according to 2016 figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
However, the number of farmers employed directly in farming has declined by 5.2% since 2011.
There are an estimated 139,600 farms in Ireland. Therefore, the CSO figures would indicate that more farmers are taking some form of off-farm employment to supplement their incomes.
Farm incomes
Teagasc reported that farm incomes increased by 37% in 2017. However, that increase was largely driven by the dairy sector.
The increase in milk price for 2017 drove the average farm income to roughly €31,900 compared with €23,500 in 2016.
Many industry experts have now commented that dairy farming is in a league of its own, in terms of farm income.
On average, dairy farmers received €1,800/ha compared with €-16/ha for suckler farmers and €-3/ha for beef finishers.
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