A report entitled "Meath's Farming Future" paints a stark picture of the future of farming in the county, both as an economic pursuit and a way of life.
Commissioned by the Meath LEADER II rural development organisation, the report says that four in 10 farm households surveyed derive at least as much of their total income from off-farm sources as from the land. This indicates "an alarming reliance", as 23 per cent of the respondents or their spouses were in off-farm employment.
"In 40 per cent of the households surveyed, either the respondent, the spouse or both parties are engaged in off-farm employment. Half the respondents are full-time employed," it says.
"These facts have serious implications at human level, and beg questions regarding the quality of life of families within the Irish farming community, particularly when one notes the fact that the groups surveyed are not the most marginal of the farmers in the national context."
While those surveyed were willing to look for alternative sources of income, one-fifth of those surveyed had no idea what route to pursue and a further one-fifth thought that farmhouse accommodation was the panacea to the ills of the agriculture sector, according to the report.
"Serious questions need to be asked about the realism of tourism as a universal alternative farm enterprise. Similarly for the food industry. Romantic propaganda about the prospect of small food businesses compensating for the decline in farming income ignore the high entry costs and failure rate in this line of business," says the report.
The survey, which looked at 400 farm families, found that only 13 per cent of farms had taken on an alternative on-farm enterprise within the previous 10 years.
It also found that 92 per cent of respondents had difficulties finding labour or expected to have problems within the immediate future.
"The sector is not in a position to compete with alternative sources of paid employment, and ongoing reforms make it increasingly impossible for it to do so," the report says.
The survey found that more than four in 10 families expected their farming income to decrease over the next five years and a further three in 10 believed that their income would remain static. "Taking those involved in winter beef production as an extreme example, an incredible 99 per cent believe that a bleak outlook is the very best the future holds for them."
As for the future, only a negligible proportion of respondents had failed to give consideration to, or make arrangements for, their retirement.
"Only one in three had selected a successor, whose average age was 26 years. Over a quarter foresee problems in identifying a successor. Almost half of the intended successors have been educated to third level and will have developed lifestyle expectations as a result," the report says.
The survey was conducted by a research team from the Department of Agribusiness, Extension and Rural Development at University College, Dublin.