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Output, Input and Income in Agriculture - Advance Estimate 2022

Agricultural Operating Surplus projected to increase by 30% to €4,826m in 2022

Online ISSN: 2009-5740
CSO statistical publication, , 11am

Key Findings

  • The value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices is estimated to increase by 26% (+€2,579m) to €12,685m in 2022.

  • With almost no change in output volumes and a price increase of 46%, the value of Milk production is forecast to rise by €1,567m to €4,962m. Milk is expected to generate 39% of the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices.

  • The value of almost all Livestock will grow in 2022, however Cattle production is expected to experience the largest increase with its value rising by 20% (+€527m) to €3,108m.

  • Despite the expectation that the volume of most Crops would fall in 2022, crop values will grow by 14% (+€302m) to €2,438m. While volumes are forecast to contract by 4%, Cereal values are estimated to rise by 49% (+€214m) to €649m due to average price increases of 53%.

  • Intermediate Consumption costs are estimated to increase by 25% (+€1,522m) to €7,647m in 2022. With price increases of 141%, the cost of Fertilisers is forecast to grow by 97% (+€585m). The cost of Feeding Stuffs is expected to increase by 31% (+€561m) to €2,360m, with prices accounting for 28% of this rise.

  • Expenditure on Energy & Lubricants is estimated to rise by 42% (+€193m) to €649m due mainly to price increases of 39%.

  • Agricultural Operating Surplus is expected to grow by 30% (+€1,127m) to €4,826m in 2022.

Statistician's Comment

Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in the Central Statistics Office’s (CSO) Agricultural Accounts and Production Section, said: “This release provides an early estimate of the value of agricultural outputs, inputs, and income for 2022. While it is compiled with relatively limited information on volumes and prices, it nevertheless provides an early indicator of the performance of the agricultural sector in 2022. Our forecast suggests that while Intermediate Consumption Costs will increase by a quarter to €7,647m, the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices is expected to grow by 26% to €12,685m.

The price of Fertilisers experienced the largest increase of all inputs, with prices increasing by an average of 141%. However, the full impact of higher prices was allayed by a reduction of 19% in the volume of Fertilisers used on Irish farms. As a result, the cost of Fertilisers is estimated to have increased by 97% to €1,191m.

The cost of Feeding Stuffs is estimated to grow by 31% to €2,360m, adding an additional €561m to production costs. Price increases accounted for 28% of this increase.

With the well-publicised increases in the price of Energy & Lubricants, which is expected to average 39% for the agricultural sector, their cost to farmers is forecast to grow by 42% to €649m in 2022. On a more positive note, certain types of farm incomes rose significantly, due mainly to substantial price increases.

With prices up by 46% and little or no change in output volumes, the value of Milk is expected to rise by €1,567m to €4,962m. Cereal prices are expected to grow by an average of 53%, resulting in the value of Cereals rising by 49% to €649m. As a result of these and other changes, we forecast that Operating Surplus will increase by 30% to €4,826m in 2022.

Editor's Note

The figures for 2022 are advance estimates which are provisional and based on the latest available data. These figures are subject to change once the complete set of data for the full year becomes available. Updated figures for 2022 will be published in the Preliminary Estimate in March 2023, followed by the Final Estimate in June 2023.

Main Results

Table 1.1 presents analysis of Selected Income Indicators for Agriculture from 2020 to 2022. Figure 1.1 shows trends in Selected Income Indicators for Agriculture from 2020 to 2022. 

Table 1.1: Output, Input and Income in Agriculture, 2022
 € million Annual Change (%)
 202020212022 20212022
Goods Output8,3669,60512,136 14.826.4
Intermediate Consumption5,6156,1267,647 9.124.8
Net Subsidies1,7571,7271,822 -1.75.5
Operating Surplus3,1463,7004,826 17.630.5
X-axis label202020212022
Goods Output8.366427689371569.605201600164512.1364174828263
Intermediate Consumption5.615083646588226.125779291158637.64744743283385
Net Subsidies1.757248423543021.72720679375251.82168054052489
Operating Surplus3.146413243779443.699564257799174.82646261850093

Despite large increases in input costs, the CSO’s first estimate of Agricultural Operating Surplus for 2022 is an expected growth of 30% (+€1,127m) to €4,826m. This is due to some significant increases in output prices. In relation to outputs, Cereal (+53%) and Milk (+46%) prices are forecast to have risen the most during the year. In terms of inputs, Fertilisers (+141%), Energy & Lubricants (+39%), and Feeding Stuffs (+28%) experienced the greatest price rises. 

With the volume of Cattle production expected to increase by 2% and prices to go up by 18%, the value of Cattle is projected to rise by 20% (+€527m) to €3,108m. Despite a projected contraction of 2% in output volumes, higher prices (+13%) should see the value of Pig production increase by 10% (+€56m) to €612m. The volume of Sheep production is expected to rise by 9% and when combined with price increases of 3%, it is anticipated that their value will grow by 12% (+€42m) to €405m. 

The value of Horses is expected to grow by 8% (+€25m) to €327m in 2022 as price increases of 11% counteract the impact of a 4% contraction in output volumes. Poultry is the only output where values are expected to fall in 2022. A 4% increase in prices was negated by a 5% reduction in output volumes, resulting in the value of Poultry falling by 2% (-€3m) to €185m. With little or no change in Milk volumes but significant increases in its price, the value of Milk is expected to rise by 46% (+€1,567m) to €4,962m in 2022.

Despite a minor (-1%) reduction in output volumes, the value of Crop production is expected to increase by 14% (+€302m) to €2,438m in 2022, with prices estimated to rise by 15%. The volume of Cereal production is expected to decrease by 4% but with prices increasing by 53%, the largest price increase of all outputs, the value of Cereals is projected to grow by 49% (+€214m) to €649m. With only minor change (+1%) in the volume produced, price increases are forecast to cause the value of Forage Plants to grow by 5% (+€58m) to €1,175m. Overall, the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices is expected to rise by 26% (+€2,579m) to €12,685m. 

While there is still relatively limited data available on input costs, Intermediate Consumption costs are projected to rise by 25% (+€1,522m) to €7,647m. The largest increase was in the cost of Fertilisers, where despite the volume used on Irish farms decreasing by 19%, price increases averaging 141% have led to the cost of Fertilisers rising by 97% (+€585m) to €1,191m. The volume of Feeding Stuffs used by Irish farmers is expected to increase by 2% and with prices estimated to grow by 28%, their cost will rise by 31% (+€561m) to €2,360m. 

With the value of Agricultural Outputs at Basic Prices up by €2,579m, Intermediate Consumption costs rising by €1,522m, Other Subsidies less Taxes on Production increasing by €87m, and Compensation of Employees costs growing by €17m, Operating Surplus is expected to rise by 30% (+€1,127m) to €4,826m in 2022.

See Table 1.2 below for Advance Estimate 2022 in Output, Input and Income in Agriculture.

Table 1.2: Output, Input and Income in Agriculture - Advance Estimate 2022