Farm types
Within agriculture, we expect to see a continuing trend towards two contrasting farm types: large-scale full-time farms and small-scale part-time farms. Approximately 40% of farmers will retire in the next ten years and almost all farms will change hands at least once by 2030. The majority of Irish farms are family owned and entry to the industry through channels other than inheritance is rare due to the limited availability and high cost of land. For example, in 2002 just 0.1 % of the total farmland in Ireland was sold. Research shows that less than 10% of farm heirs plan to sell the farm with the majority (approximately 70%) opting to farm on a part-time basis (Hennessy and Rehman, 2007). The extent of part-time farming will depend on the willingness of offspring to continue to hold at least one other job and the availability of additional local employment. Part-time farming is not just an option being pursued by new farm entrants, many full-time farmers are also choosing to supplement declining farm profits with off-farm employment. In general small-scale part-time farms are less intensive.