Tillage farms were the only ones to see their income increase this year, according to the latest Teagasc economic report.

Despite a 23% drop in production caused by falling yields and a smaller sown area, a 30% to 40% increase in prices made up for the lower harvest.

“Seventy-eight per cent of cereal farmers had a positive net margin in 2018,” said Teagasc economist Fiona Thorne.

This is good news for the farm machinery trade as tillage farmers are among their best customers