Marginal rise in average incomes, but 75pc of farms earning less than €30,000 per annum

THE AVERAGE farm income rose by 2pc in Ireland in 2019, but three-quarters of farms have an income of less than €30,000, according to the 2019 Teagasc National Farm Survey.

It says a combination of factors were responsible for the increase, which saw the average farm income stand at €23,933. These included better weather leading to good production conditions.

The difficulties in the beef market in 2019 were offset by the provision of additional support payments through BEAM and BEEP, with beef farmers earning an average income of €9,188€13,893, depending on their enterprise.

Dairy farms recorded an average income of €66,570 in 2019, a 9pc increase on 2018 despite last year’s 3pc fall in average milk prices.

Some 33pc of the country’s farms are classed as ‘vulnerable’ according to Teagasc, with direct payments accounting for up to 160pc of some farm incomes, while 52pc of farms have off-farm income.

Sheep farms produced an average income of €14,604, an increase of 9pc on the 2018 level.

But average incomes on tillage farms fell by 15pc to €34,437.

The Teagasc National Farm Survey is based on data representative of over 90,000 farms.