IFA challenges latest Teagasc figures on farm incomes
08/03/2006 - 08:24:14The Irish Farmers Association has accused Teagasc of underestimating the fall in farm incomes that will be caused by impending trade reforms.
Yesterday, the agriculture development authority said it expected Irish farm incomes to fall by 11% between now and 2015 as a result of recent measures agreed by the World Trade Organisation.
The changes include the eradication of EU subsidies and the lowering of tariffs on imported goods.
However, the IFA claims the Teagasc figures failed to take account of recent changes to the EU's Common Agriculture Policy and the real fall in farm incomes over the next nine years would be around 36%.
The association said this amounted to a drop of €800m in Ireland's agricultural output.
