Comparative Analysis of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems in Ireland
At the 'Farming For a Better Future' open day held by Teagasc at Johnstown Castle, researchers presented findings comparing organic and conventional farming systems in Ireland. The research used data from the 2024 Teagasc National Farm Survey and highlighted significant structural and financial differences between these systems.
Organic beef finishing farms are, on average, 66% larger in utilisable agricultural area compared to conventional farms. Despite carrying more livestock, these organic farms have lower stocking rates and allocate more land to tillage. The gross output of organic beef finishing farms is 48% higher, primarily due to subsidies, and their family farm income stands at €36,825, more than double that of conventional farms.
Organic suckler farms also show similar trends; they are larger and operate with lower stocking rates. Their direct costs, including feed and veterinary inputs, are 28% lower than conventional farms, resulting in higher gross margins. Family farm income for organic suckler farms is higher at €19,635 compared to €13,442 for conventional ones.
In the dairy sector, organic farms average 77 hectares, slightly larger than the 70 hectares of conventional farms. However, organic dairy farms have fewer livestock units and produce 39% less gross output than conventional farms. Despite having lower direct costs, organic dairy farms rely more heavily on direct payments, which account for 18% of their gross output.
The research emphasized that organic farms generally operate at lower intensity and achieve lower output per hectare. Nevertheless, they often maintain a similar or higher total income when including supports. A key finding is that organic systems show less vulnerability to volatile input markets due to lower dependency on external inputs.
Continued support for organic farming in Ireland will depend on sustained policy measures, especially those related to income stability and market development. The researchers noted the importance of Pillar II payments under the Common Agricultural Policy for the financial viability of organic farms.
