Support for Sinn Féin has “collapsed” among Ireland’s farmers, a poll for the Irish Farmers Journal has found.

In a General Election, 6% of farmers would give their first preference to the main opposition party - down from 13% in December.

“The party polling shows that Sinn Féin really are in bother in terms of the farming vote ,” Irish Farmers Journal Political Correspondent Pat O'Toole told Newstalk. 

“Their vote has collapsed since December… that’s their lowest since 2008.”

Fine Gael topped the poll, with support also strong for Independent Ireland, with 11% planning on voting for the party founded by TDs Michael Collins, Richard O’Donoghue and Michael Fitzmaurice.

Support for independents remained stable at 22%.

Main image: Farmer in Ireland walking behind a herd of cows on a narrow country road on Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland.