John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if farm incomes have stabilised and if he can furnish figures for 2007, 2008, 2009, and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37615/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The most recently published data on farm incomes is in Teagasc's National Farm Survey for 2009, which estimated that average farm income for that year was €11,968. Full-time farms, as defined by Teagasc, had an average farm income of €24,214. The following table shows the equivalent figures for 2008 and 2007. Direct comparison with 2010 is not yet possible as the 2010 survey will not be published until next year. However, in their mid-year update, published in July, Teagasc estimated that dairy, cereal and sheep margins will improve in 2010 due to higher output prices and lower inputs costs. They found that beef margins would remain relatively unchanged.