According to the Central Statistics Office farmers incomes have fallen by over 4 per cent during the year ending last September.
However, that is not all the bad news over the past twelve months because production costs down on the farm have also risen by a massive 20.3 per cent over the same period. The increases in costs is in actual fact the biggest problem because many of the increases including fertilisers and fuels are International increases, and are outside our control. Fertilisers have risen by a massive 75 per cent with fuel and electricity each approaching 20 per cent. Over twelve months ago it was expected that both fertilisers and fuels would increase but not to the extent that they have which
has been staggering. Animal feeds, seed, and veterinary costs have also increased during the same period.
The price of cattle increased by over 17 per cent during the past twelve months or so, with the price of pigs also increasing slightly less. However, cereal growers were forced to endure a massive drop of 28 per cent in prices, with the milk producer also suffering a drop of over 20 per cent. Other food production prices to decrease over the past twelve months included sheep 5.6 per cent, vegetables 4.8 per cent, and potatoes 3.5 per cent.
Padraig Walsh told the Kilkenny Advertiser/Carlow First on Tuesday that he was worried by these latest figures "which clearly show that farmers incomes are dropping, and Irish farmers are becoming increasingly subjected to the volatility of world market prices."
Mr Walsh concluded by saying that he was concerned about the rapid decline in sheep production in Ireland over the past few years. "It was to be expected that there would be a drop in sheep production, but 13 per cent is far too big. I am once gain calling on the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith to go after the unused CAP funds as he said a few months ago that he would do. This money would provide welcome for what is an the ailing sheep sector at the present time."
