THERE will probably be only 60,000 full time farmers in Ireland in 10 years and remaining farmers will be supported by State and EU supports, the Agricultural Science Association conference has been told, writes Sean MacConnell Agriculture Correspondent.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, predicted this yesterday when he opened the conference in Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare. He said that Irish agriculture faced enormous challenges with EU enlargement, a new world trade pact and the possible ending of milk and other quotas.
The conference - "Agricultural Policy - The Future" - was told by Mr William Shanahan, president of the ASA, that Irish farmers would have to compete in increasingly open markets in the future. Market forces would assume a much more important role as government support declined on a world scale.