Clare ICMSA Chair Says ‘No Longer Possible’ To Make Living Off Small Farms

The Clare Chair of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, says it’s ‘no longer possible’ to make a living off small to average sized farms.

It comes as a new report from Teagasc, shows average farm incomes on a sectoral level, remained static, or fell last year.

The average income of suckler farmers remains at just over 9,000 euro, with more than half of farms now relying on off-farm employment, as an income stream.

Clare ICMSA Chair, and O Callaghans Mills farmer, Martin McMahon, says difficulty maintaining an income, is causing families huge stress.