Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

The Teagasc survey might show increases in income, but let us not get carried away. We all know that these increases are coming from rock bottom. A rise on next to nothing is still not enough to live on. We have to be clear and truthful with ourselves. The stark reality is that only 42% of farms are economically viable, even after the so-called rebound. Take dairy out of the mix and things are worse again. Suckler farmers are on €13,500 a year and beef farmers are on €18,000. That is far below the minimum wage. It is no wonder that so many farmers have left. They have given up.

While we are talking about rising incomes, farmers are still waiting on ACRES payments, they are still being squeezed by sky-high input costs, especially fertiliser, and they are being told there is no money left in the TAMS budget. This is the lived reality on family farms. I ask plainly, when will we see real targeted income supports that match the reality on the ground for beef, suckler and sheep farmers?

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