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It is estimated by Teagasc that a farmer would need between 650ac and 700ac to make a living from tillage.
Teagasc director Dr Gerry Boyle made the assessment at a presentation to an Oireachtas committee on the future of the tillage sector in Ireland.
Dr Boyle said the exact acreage would depend on how much of that land was leased or owned. Roughly 50% of land sown under tillage in Ireland is leased.
Premium markets
The Teagasc director said the organisation would like to see more work being done to identify premium markets for Irish produce, and believes that investment in organic and GM-free produce could increase the international appeal and value of the tillage sector.
Professor Boyle said that one of the great paradoxes for the Irish tillage sector was that the sector experienced some of the highest yields in the world but also some of the largest costs of production.
October looming for €2/hour tillage farmers
Grain prices edging upwards – €140 being paid for barley
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