Farmers are being asked to discuss the operation of their farm with their Teagasc advisor as soon as possible.
Forestry, land leasing, organic farming, solar panels, partnering with a neighbour, contract rearing are among some of the options that farmers have embraced.
“Are there simple changes that can be made to improve farm profit, or should you be considering a more drastic enterprise change?” asked James McDonnell, Teagasc Farm Management Department.
“There’s a lot of risk in farming now. If you change enterprise, there is a risk, but if you keep doing what you are doing, there is also a risk.”
He noted that the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is being negotiated at present. “It won’t be easy due to budgetary pressures. That’s a risk outside the farm gate, but with obvious implications for the business inside the farm gate.”
“Farm debt in Ireland, in the most part, is on dairy farms, and given the recent volatility in the financial markets, interest rates will probably remain low for the time being,” McDonnell added.
“But what about the price of our commodities, milk and meat? Reduced global spending could have an effect on the value of our exporters.”
He stressed that it is essential farmers review 2020 spending plans, even at this early stage in the year. “Review your farm plan, farm finances, or plan a change.”
“You may need a farm visit and if so make an appointment for a future date. It could be your most important business meeting of 2020.”
BPS
He reminded farmers that the application process for the Basic Payment Scheme is now open.
He explained that all Teagasc Basic Payment appointments will now be processed over the phone rather than an office consultation. Teagasc staff will contact farmer clients in the coming weeks.
“It is important to get the application completed. This secures a vital part of your income for 2020.”
Farmers are hugely dependent on these payments for their income and to support their farm business, McDonnell added. “Indirectly, this funding supports thousands of rural businesses as it flows through the economy.”
The EU Basic Payment scheme delivers almost €1.2 billion to Irish farmers annually, and on top of this, there are various other payments that farmers opt for – depending on the circumstances of their business.
In 2018, the average subsidy payments made up 74% of the family farm income of the average farm.
“Drilling deeper, the figures are more concerning, for cattle and sheep farms, where the payments were up to 158% of income. This means that one-third of the payment received was spent farming.”
“2018 was a tough year due to weather extremes, 2019 was more normal, and what has 2020 in store?”
Table 1: Average value of direct payments and contribution to family farm income (FFI) 2018
| Farm Enterprise | Direct Payment | FFI contribution |
| Dairy | €21,022 | 34% |
| Cattle rearing | €13,098 | 158% |
| Cattle other | €16,226 | 111% |
| Sheep | €18,980 | 143% |
| Tillage | €22,451 | 55% |
| All | €17,244 | 74% |
Figures from the Teagasc National Farm Survey, a representative sample of approximately 90,000 farmers with sales greater than €8,000.
“Every farmer should have a look at table 1 and compare with their own business.”
“If the figures are similar to your farm and repeat year-on-year, then I would suggest some tough conversations need to be had with your advisor to implement change,” he concluded.
