Irish farm incomes rise again
13 December 2001
Irish farm incomes rise again
By Philip Clarke, Europe editor
FARM incomes in the Republic of Ireland have increased for the second year running, according to advance estimates from the Central Statistics Office in Cork.
Boosted by higher product prices and extra subsidies, the industrys operating surplus, before rent and finance, should be up 5.3% this year, to Ir1.92 billion (1.52bn).
That follows a 7.5% income improvement in 2000.
“Considering the problems agriculture has had to face, this represents a very positive result,” said agriculture minister Joe Walsh.
According to CSO estimates, the biggest rises this year have been for sheep farmers, whose output climbed 37% to Ir221m (175m), and pig producers – up 21% at Ir258m (205m).
Milk producers also did better, with a 6.5% rise in output to Ir1.26bn (984m). But cattle farmers suffered, as output values dropped 5% to Ir1.03bn (814m) due to the BSE crisis.
Net subsidy payments to Irish farmers increased by 4.6% this year to Ir1.04bn, representing more than half of farmers aggregate income.