Farm Size Has Increased by Over 20% in Past Decade
Issued 12th February 2002
Average farm size in Ireland has increased by 6 hectares (15 acres) since 1993. This represents an increase of over 20%, bringing the average size of farm at present to 33.6 hectares (84 acres).
The figures were revealed by Jim Frawley of the Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre in an address to the Teagasc Rural Development Conference in Tullamore, today (Tuesday, 12 February).
Mr Frawley said increased uptake of off-farm employment, either by the farmer or spouse, has alleviated income pressure in up to 40,000 farm households during the past decade.
''The increase in part-time farming has made a major contribution to the income base of rural areas. In 2000, it is estimated that €1 billion - €1.3 billion (£0.8 billion - £1 billion) was earned by farmers and their spouses from off-farm employment'', he said.
He said almost 30% of farmers with off-farm employment were involved in the construction industry. A further 28% were involved in farm-related employment, such as machinery contracting and the provision of farm relief services. In contrast, almost 40% of spouses with off-farm jobs were involved in professional occupations. Over one-quarter were involved in clerical work and over 10% in service industries.
Jim Frawley said a striking feature in recent years was the dramatic reduction in input from spouses to the day to day running of the farm. During the 1990s, a total of 24,000 spouses had disengaged from farming, a drop of 32%. There was also a significant decline in the contribution of other family members to the running of farms.
''It is clear from these trends that farming is becoming less family orientated and more a one-person operation on the majority of Irish farms'', said Mr Frawley.
He said total farm numbers declined from 170,000 to 144,000 during the 1990s, an annual drop of 2% which was lower than the exodus from farming in the previous decade. Most of the decline in farm numbers was in the smaller farm categories (less than 20 hectares).
''The most significant feature was a reduction in the numbers of farmers over 65. The Early Retirement Scheme, which has attracted some 10,000 participants since its introduction in 1994, has made a direct impact on the decline of over 65 year olds in farming'', said Mr Frawley.
He said farmers with mixed dairy and beef enterprises have shown the biggest increase in farm size during the past decade. They increased their average farm size by 14 hectares (35 acres). Tillage farmers increased farm size by 13.5 hectares while farmers involved in beef suckling systems increased farm size by 7 hectares. The lowest level of increase was for specialist dairy farmers and sheep farmers.
