The Ulster Farmers’ Union has acknowledged the increase in the latest farm income figures which were recently published by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
UFU President Graham Furey commented; “Overall the figures for farm incomes in 2009 show a positive result. This was largely due to a number of key factors such as the strength of the euro and a recovery in some our major commodity markets during the second half of 2009. It is encouraging that farm incomes rose modestly last year”.
However the UFU highlighted that the market place was still failing to generate a return for producers. Graham Furey said; “The reality is that if the total amount of Single Farm Payment was removed from the industry income figures, then there would be no profit in the farming industry. It remains the case that the food chain is dysfunctional and the annual income figures illustrate that Northern Ireland farmers would be unable to make a living solely from the marketplace.”
Graham Furey added; “There is still a long way to go before the farming industry returns to any degree of confidence and farmers feel that they are making genuine and stable profits”.