Area of Crops Provisional is a new series providing provisional estimates of the area of land used to grow the main arable crops in Ireland. This information was previously part of the Crops and Livestock June Provisional Results.
This series separates provisional crop estimates from livestock estimates. Final crop area results will be published in the spring in our Area Yield and Production of Crops release.
June livestock estimates for cattle, sheep, and pigs are now published separately in our Livestock Survey June.
For further information, contact agri@cso.ie.
The area under Total Cereals fell by 18,800 hectares (ha) (-6.8%) to 256,100 ha in 2026 compared with 2025.
The area of Oilseed Rape rose by 7,300 ha (+61.9%) to 19,100 ha in 2026 in comparison with 2025.
The area of Potatoes was down by 600 ha (-6.3%) to 8,400 ha between 2025 and 2026.
Provisional estimates for 2026 show an 18,800 ha (-6.8%) decrease in the area under Total Cereals, bringing the total to 256,100 ha compared with 2025. There was a drop of 8,400 ha (-6.2%) in the area under the three main Winter Cereals, and a fall of 11,500 ha (-8.5%) in the area under the three main Spring Cereals.
The area under Winter Wheat fell by 4,700 ha (-8.0%), Winter Oats went down by 6,000 ha (-33.4%), Spring Wheat decreased by 1,000 ha (-21.1%), Spring Oats dropped by 3,800 ha (-24.0%) and Spring Barley was down by 6,700 ha (-5.8%). The only cereal areas to increase in 2026 were Winter Barley and Rye which went up by 2,400 ha (+4.1%) and 1,100 ha (+28.9%) respectively.
The area under Potatoes decreased by 600 ha (-6.3%) to 8,400 ha. Oilseed Rape area rose by 7,300 ha (+61.9%), the area under Beans and Peas increased by 3,100 ha (+20.8%), and Maize Silage area was up by 2,300 ha (+10.3%).
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (09 November 2026) published provisional findings for Area of Crops 2026. Commenting on the provisional data, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Agriculture Surveys Section of the CSO, said:
"Provisional data for 2026 show the area under Total Cereals was 18,800 ha (-6.8%) less than in 2025. Some other arable crops saw an increase in the area grown, including Beans and Peas (+20.8%), Oilseed Rape (+61.9%) and Maize Silage (+10.3%).
Cereals
The decrease, 18,800 ha, in Total Cereals was largely due to the reduction in Oats planted in 2026 (-9,800 ha), of which most was attributed to a fall in Winter Oats (down 6,000 ha). Users should note that Rye has been included as a separate category in this release table due to the increase in production of Rye in recent years. Provisional data shows 4,900 ha of Rye was grown in 2026, up by 1,100 ha when compared with 2025.Arable Crops excluding Cereals
Some of the reduction in the area under Total Cereals was offset by increases in the production of other arable crops. The area under Oilseed Rape was up 7,300 ha (+61.9%), Beans and Peas up 3,100 ha (+20.8%) and Maize Silage up 2,300 ha (+10.3%). The area of Potatoes, 8,400 ha, in 2026 was less than 2025 when it was 8,900 ha (-6.3%)."