The exclusion of farmers’ own labour costs from the National Farm Survey is a topic for much discussion and debate at farm level.
Many farmers feel aggrieved that the figures generated do not line up with reality simply because there is no cost associated with their own labour.
Last Friday, the IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association) and Teagasc came together to discuss the progress made on proposals for an add-on, which would account for own-labour costs, to the National Farm Survey.
IFA Deputy President Richard Kennedy, the IFA’s representative on the board of Teagasc, led a delegation from the National Dairy Liquid Milk Committees and Fresh Milk Producers, to review the work already carried out by Teagasc.
Speaking on the matter, Kennedy said: “Farmers get very frustrated when their production costs are published each year as part of the Teagasc National Farm Survey that their own labour is quite literally not given any value.
“Quite apart from understating farmers’ production costs at a time when labour shortages on dairy farms are getting more problematic, this is sending the wrong message to potential young successors and new entrants.”
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The IFA’s National Dairy Liquid Milk Committees and Fresh Milk Producers came together early last year, proposing to Teagasc that this robust add-on to the National Farm Survey may help in correcting this issue.
Kennedy added that the meeting was about getting an update on the significant amount of work Teagasc has carried out since the IFA submission was presented.
The IFA representative also said a measure of the actual cost of farmers’ own labour is required by farmers in other sectors, and that the add-on to the National Farm Survey should, in time, be extended to these other sectors.