Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the margins available to producers in the beef, lamb, pig and poultry sectors; if any particular action is warranted to address any obvious issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43477/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In terms of returns to farmers, Teagasc’s annual National Farm Survey provides analysis of output, inputs and income at farm level, based on a representative sample of farms. Family farm income per farm (FFI) is the principal measure of income used in the National Farm Survey. It is calculated by deducting all farm costs (direct and overhead) from the value of farm gross output. Factors of production owned by the farmer, such as family labour and land, are not included as costs. Family farm income therefore represents the financial reward to all members of the family, who work on the farm, for their labour, management and investment.  It does not include income from non-farming sources and thus may not be equated to farm household income. The National Farm Survey is based on a sample of over 900 farms, and represents a national population of 79,000 farms, with a standard output of €8,000 or more.  The main farming systems covered are: dairying; cattle rearing (suckler farming); cattle other (mainly beef finishing); sheep; tillage; and mixed livestock. Pigs and poultry farms are not included in the survey, as the small number of such  farms makes it difficult to obtain a representative sample of these systems.

Other Teagasc research publications, such as ‘Management Data for Farm Planning’ book, provide detailed comparisons of returns available from the main farm enterprises, for farm planning purposes.

It is vital that farmers are adequately rewarded by the market for the products that they produce and that the necessary supports are in place to ensure a viable agriculture sector throughout Ireland into the future. The level of Direct Payments secured during the reform of the CAP is vital in this regard, as are the supports outlined in the €4 billion draft Rural Development Programme which is currently with the European Commission for approval.