Can I make a living off the farm

I often see advice in the farming forum that starts with "I know someone who …". To be honest it's usually hard to take such advice too seriously as it usually lacks some important detail.

If someone owning 120 acres with no debts is losing 3,000 a year after all subsidy payments are included then they really need to evaluate what they are doing as something is fundamentally wrong, the issues in that story extend well beyond low income from farming. At those stocking rates, inputs should be relatively low, are they just throwing out fertilizer for the craic and stuffing cattle with meal to a point they'll never see a return?

Not necessarily, they may be perfectionists. The worse type of farmers. Can't rest, if they see a spot of rust, the machine must be changed, buildings perfect, no expense spared. I warn my children don't strive for perfection or don't even dare think of marrying one

Both of those scenarios are entirely possible, but then it's definitely not a valid example of whether or not someone could make a living off of the farm (or even drop to part-time off farm). It's also why I said the story is missing some important detail, as second hand stories usually do.

they could definitely do better financially by leasing the land to ground-hungry dairymen but they’re happy enough working away at it part time.
One thing I would imagine (but don’t know for sure) is that they could do more jobs themselves if they were full time rather than contracting out because they don’t have the time. Eg a bit of spraying, topping etc

What part of the country? Cavan perchance?

Your buddy might just be a crafty hoor pretending that he's not making any money so that you don't ask him for a few quid for your labour? 😋