Farming woes again

Further concerns haunted the farming industry last week, with farm incomes predicted to be down on 2001.

Bad weather is one of the most significant factors, reported the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). In 2001, average farm income grew at 5.8 percent against inflation of 4.9 percent.

Policy shifts in Brussels will also have an adverse effect on farmers, according to IFA president John Dillon.

Dillon said he would warn Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that if farmers faced lesser subsidized payments from the EU, then they would come out in greater numbers to vote against the Nice treaty, the crucial referendum that Ahern needs to win in October. So far, the IFA’s official position has been to fully back the government on the Nice treaty.