In a recent article published by Agriland, details of the Teagasc farm survey were discussed. It found that average incomes increased, albeit of a historically low level in 2023.

Interestingly, from a forestry perspective, the average income of a cattle farm (rearing & other) is capped at €18,000. Given the average size of those farms, their income could be very well subsidised through the introduction of a forestry option across their lands. Either a dedicated parcel to forestry of c 20% of their lands, at €1,103 per hectare for 20 years, or AGROFORESTRY option, offering more than €948 per hectare for 10 years.

Get in touch to learn how you can secure additional and tax free income annually.

Here are some of the details from Agriland Cattle rearing Following an extremely poor outcome in 2023, incomes on cattle rearing farms, which typically focus on suckler beef production, rebounded strongly in 2024. The average income increased by 93% to €13,500.

Higher cattle prices and lower production costs contributed to the improved economic performance of these farms.

While the core support payment remains the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), in addition the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) and Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) also helped to underpin the income improvement.

Cattle other Cattle Other farms, including beef finishing and store cattle enterprises, experienced an income increase of 32% in 2024, with the average income rising to over €18,000. This increase was driven by firmer prices for finished animals and lower production costs.

However, the increase in finished cattle prices was more modest than for younger animals and this limited the increase in income observed in this farm system.