Low incomes pose threat to future of farming in West

LOW incomes on West of Ireland farms – and especially so on beef enterprises – pose a threat to the future of farming in the region, it was warned this week following the release of the 2019 Teagasc National Farm Survey statistics.

The Teagasc figures indicated that the average annual income of cattle farmers across the country came in at just €9,182 – such enterprises ‘backbone’ farming in the West.

Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell, told the Farming Tribune that the latest figures showed that the average returns on beef enterprises was well under the annual social welfare payment of €10,000.

“This level of return is simply not sustainable for farmers who often work seven-day weeks and up to 16-hours a day.

“With such a low-level of return from cattle and sheep farms in the West, there is a real worry about the next generation and their willingness to take over an enterprise that generates very low levels of income,” said Anne Mitchell.

She added that over half the farmers in the West of Ireland were dependent on off-farm income to survive financially. “Incomes from beef and sheep enterprises in the West need a boost if we are to sustain this way of life into future generations,” said Anne Mitchell.

She also added that the IFA and farmers had serious concerns over the failure of the new Government to have one senior Government minister ‘from Donegal to Limerick’ in the new Cabinet.                                                                               

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.