Only a small minority of Wexford farmers are optimistic about the future and many plan to retire in the next five years, a study has shown.
Commissioned by the Wexford Organisation for Rural Development (WORD) - which administers Leader II funds in the county - the study found that "unpredictable", "insecure", "gloomy" and "businesslike" were the words most used by Wexford farmers to sum up the future of the sector.
Forty per cent of those surveyed indicated that they might retire within five years, yet only a third of these had identified a successor to take on the running of the farm.
The results of the survey, conducted by the department of agribusiness at UCD, reflects the pessimistic outlook of farmers generally. It has particular significance for Wexford, however, where dependence on agriculture is 50 per cent higher than the State average because of the lack of industry in the county.
Of the 295 farmers surveyed - from 4,000 in the county - only 12 said they were optimistic about the future, compared to 44 when a similar study was undertaken in 1993.
Seven out of 10 respondents were uncertain about the capacity of the farm to provide an adequate income for their family and said they would be looking at alternatives on the farm or to off-farm employment.
Many farmers have already embarked on such paths. Five per cent of respondents had a non-traditional agricultural enterprise, ranging from alternative livestock, to mechanics, to horticulture and, in one case, a shop. A tenth of those surveyed had set up a non-agricultural business, including B & Bs, contracting, self-catering, greyhounds, driving, footwear, warehousing and steel fabricators.
Only a fifth believed their farm would be able to provide a comfortable living for their family.
The chairman of WORD, Mr John O'Sullivan, said that while the study identified an increasing level of despondency regarding the viability of the sector, there was a future for farming in the county.
"A whole rural development programme based around this study and its findings can be developed for the new Leader-plus programme," he said, referring to the scheme which will succeed Leader II.
The study says there are a number of ways in which the securing of alternative sources of income by Wexford farmers could be aided by agencies such as WORD, county enterprise boards, the ICA, Teagasc, An Bord Bia, FAS, the Farm Relief Service and others. It was essential that a multi-body forum of all relevant partners and organisations within the county be set up.