Farms in the MidWest are generating more income than the national average.
While, figures from the CSO show that a quarter of farmers in the region are over 65.
These figures, which related to 2013, show there are 16,200 individual farms in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.
The average value of their output stands at just over 37,000 euro, 1200 euro more than the average for Ireland but more than double the typical income from a farm in the West of the country.
There are 1,800 female farmers in the region, but the figures confirm the high age profile of farmers here.
Three-quarters are at least 45, while 4,000 are over 65.
Half of the farmers here are full-time, though nearly 8,000 are engaged in work off-farm as well.
Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of farms here are in the suckler sector – over 11,000 – while 2,700 are engaged in dairying.
