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Farm incomes increase by 27 per cent despite economic woes

The average farm’s earnings rose dramatically to €21,500 last year, according to the IFA.

THE INCOME OF the average farm has risen by 27 per cent despite Ireland’s ongoing economic woes, according to new figures.

The Irish Farmers’ Association said increases in food prices had led to a sharp rise in incomes, to an average of €21,500 annually.

IFA chief economist Rowena Dwyer said it was hoped this trend would continue in 2012. Saying the outlook for the year was “fairly positive”, she added: “Indications for international commodity prices suggest a slight easing back from the peaks of 2011, but this should be moderate.”

However, she said that this could not be relied upon as “turmoil” on world markets was making food prices unstable.

“In addition, the lower revised growth forecast for the UK market in late 2011 is a cause for concern as over 40 per cent of agri-food exports go there,” Dwyer added.

The rise in average incomes came despite a parallel increase in the number of farmers taking part in the Farm Assist income support scheme. The number now stands at 11,300, up by 46 per cent since 2008.

Launching the IFA Farm Income Review 2011, Dwyer said the EU’s Single Farm Payment accounts for more than 70 per cent of national farm incomes.

Yesterday, employers’ group Ibec warned that most incomes would be frozen or reduced this year. It said around a quarter of companies planned to increase staff wages by an average of two per cent.

More: Pay rise expectations for 2012 are unrealistic, says Ibec>

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29 Comments
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:17 PM

    To think there’s a family out there who’s probably been looking for that poor girl for the last twenty years , it’s very sad .

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    Mute MandyTwinkleToes
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    Dec 4th 2015, 4:53 AM

    And what about the disappeared don’t they count?

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    Mute jane
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:19 PM

    How do you lose a skull?

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    Mute Debbie Duggan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:45 PM

    The poor girl,how could she ever rest in peace,no family as yet,buried in a place she probably never knew,from her shoulders down in a coffin and her skull probably in a box in a basement somewhere..such a sad story..your right Jane how do you lose a skull..

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    Mute Carol Keane
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:57 PM

    My parents were involved in the recovery of the body of a man in the early 2000′s (?) in the Shannon Estuary. That man has never been identified. He was given a state burial in Ennis. Another member of the rescue crew entered a competition on Clare FM a short time after to win a headstone. The competition called for people to write their own epitaph. He wrote one for the unidentified man and won. “All you people of Co. Clare, kneel down here and say a prayer, for the man from God knows where”. Very sad to think that there is no name on that headstone.

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    Mute fusha2020
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:07 PM

    That made me go cold. What a lovely thing to do for someone and a lovely epitaph.Unclaimed bodies always make me feel so terribly sad, lost souls,some never missed and others never found.

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    Mute Martin Oliver Browne
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:30 PM

    With technology and communication being so advanced it is hard to believe this persons family or friends can not be located ..very sad story ..

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    Mute Tosh Lavery
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:06 PM

    Great and sensitive article.

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    Mute Aisling Brady
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:16 PM

    another massive Fail for the Irish State – We are good at failure.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:22 PM

    Hardly a fail.sure she cud have come from anywhere

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:40 PM

    Thats the sad thing about stories like this, maybe no family to miss her! Like the lady who’s body was found in the sea in clontarff I dont think she was even identified never mind been missed! We all take it so much for granted that everyone has family! Cherish yours everyday♡♡

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    Mute fusha2020
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:12 PM

    A pretty epic fail really by forensic standards. No dental xrays,no chance of facial reconstrustion. Plus its just bad form to loose a part of someone,how’d you even do that its not exactly a set if keys!

    51
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