Some 37% of farmers would vote for Fine Gael, 23% would vote for Fianna Fáil and 16% would vote for Sinn Féin in a general election, an Irish Farmers Journal survey has revealed.

Almost 60% of tillage farmers would vote for Fine Gael, 14% for Fianna Fáil, 12% for independent candidates and 2% for Sinn Féin.

This is in stark contrast to the voting preferences of beef farmers, 32% of whom said they would vote for Fine Gael, 25% for Fianna Fáil and 18% for Sinn Féin, with 20% voting for independents.

Some 48% of dairy farmers would vote Fine Gael, 22% for Fianna Fáil and 12% for Sinn Féin.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are neck and neck for the sheep farmers’ vote at 20% and 19%, respectively, with 35% voting for Fine Gael.

Regional trends

In Connacht, the survey found that 30% of farmers would vote for Fine Gael and 21% for Fianna Fáil. Fianna Fáil was edged out by Sinn Féin and independent candidates, taking home 22% and 23% of the vote, respectively.

Some 14% of farmers in Leinster said they would vote for Sinn Féin, while 23% said they would vote for Fianna Fáil.

Fine Gael is the most popular party in Leinster, with 46% of farmers saying they would give the party their first preference.

In Munster, 25% of farmers said they would vote for independent candidates and 10% said they would vote for Sinn Féin.

One third of farmers said they would vote for Fine Gael, with 27% stating they would vote for Fianna Fáil.

In Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, 39% of farmers said they would vote for Fine Gael, 27% said they would vote for Sinn Féin and 17% would vote for Fianna Fáil. Some 13% said they would vote for an independent.

About the survey

  • A total of 1,248 farmers completed the survey.
  • 48% were full-time and 47% were part-time.
  • Respondents’ farm type: beef (54%), dairy (23%), sheep (13%), tillage (5%).
  • Age: 14% over 65, 28% aged 55-64, 26% aged 45-54, 21% aged 35-44, 8% aged 25-34 and 3% under 25.
  • Location: Connacht (23%), Munster (32%), Leinster (32%) and Ulster (13%).