The South-West, South-East, and Dublin & Mid-East regions all had growth in Operating Surplus in excess of 27% compared with the national rate of 18%. At 29%, the South-West region had the largest growth in Agricultural Operating Surplus in 2021.
At 3% or less, the Border and West had the lowest rate of increase in Operating Surplus. The Border region’s Operating Surplus grew by €10m to €412m while the West’s Operating Surplus also rose by €10m to €453m.
While Livestock accounted for 39% (€3,989m) of the value of Irish Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, for the Border and West it generated 55% (€682m) and 56% (€527m) respectively of the value of their output.
The value of the Midland region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 11% (+€99m) to €1,007m. The value of Livestock, which accounted for 48% of the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, increased by 8% (+€38m) to €482m, while Cattle accounted for €37m of this increase.
The South-West had the largest rate of increase in the value of Milk production, which grew by 27%, from €858m to €1,090m, 4% higher than the national average of 23%. It also spent the most on Fertilisers, accounting for 18% or €111m of the total spend on Fertilisers.
The Dublin & Mid-East region, as the largest producer of Cereals and Potatoes in the State and accounting for 36% (€158m) and 55% (€96m) respectively of the country’s output, benefitted most from the large increases in both the volume and price of these outputs.
The Mid-West was the largest Cattle and second largest Milk producing region in 2021, supplying 20% (€505m) of Ireland's Cattle and 21% (€708m) of its Milk production.
The recent 2020 Census of Agriculture (CoA) results and the rules governing trade outside the EU identified a need for a revision to some historical data going back to 2017. These changes were all incorporated into our ‘Output, Input and Income in Agriculture – Final Estimate 2021’ release which was published last June.
Subsequent to that publication, we received some revised data and clarifications that impacted on the estimated values of Forage Plants and Compensation of Employees. As these also affected the published values back to 2017 and were received prior to preparing this release, we have incorporated these revisions into this release and updated our ‘Output, Input and Income in Agriculture – Final Estimate 2021’ release and tables to reflect these revisions.
The value of Irish Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 14% (+€1,214m) to €10,106m in 2021. Except for Pigs, the price of all animals increased in 2021 and as a result, the value of Livestock rose by 11% (+€382m) to €3,989m. Cattle prices rose by 13% and with just a marginal contraction in output volumes (less than 1%), the overall value of Cattle increased by almost 13% (+€290m) to €2,581m. Sheep prices grew by 21% and as a result, their overall value to the Irish economy rose by 20% (+€60m) to €363m. With just a relatively minor increase in output volumes (+2%), the impact on the value of Pig production of a 9% reduction in prices was a contraction of 8% (-€46m) to €555m. Although volumes were down (-6%) on the previous year, a major recovery in Horse prices (+43%) saw the value of Horses increase by 35% (+€78m) to €302m. Poultry values experienced little change (+1%, +€1m) as price increases of 2% were largely countered by a contraction of 1% in output volumes.
The value of Milk production rose by 23% (+€642m) due to the combined impact of stronger Milk prices (+17%) and higher volumes (+5%). With prices up by 19% and volumes up by 26%, the value of Cereals grew by 50% (+€145m). The value of Potatoes also grew significantly in 2021, increasing by 48% (+€57m), with increased production volumes accounting for 36% of this growth. Overall, the value of Crops rose by 11% (+€209m) to €2,136m.
Intermediate Consumption costs grew by 9% (+€511m) to €6,126m. When interpreting these results, it should be noted that the methodology used to calculate the cost of Fertilisers means that some of the effects of major increases in Fertiliser prices will not be captured until we prepare our 2022 estimates. While the cost of almost all items of Intermediate Consumption rose in 2021, the cost of Feedingstuffs (+18%, +€273m), Energy & Lubricants (+21%, +€79m), and Fertilisers (+14%, +€73m) experienced the largest increases. The net impact of these and other changes was an increase of 18% (+€553m) in agricultural Operating Surplus, which grew to €3,700m. (See Table 1)
Headline Table presents Operating Surplus figures for each region from 2019-2021.
Figure 1 shows year-to-year trends of Operating Surplus figures for each region from 2019 to 2021.
Map 1 displays Agricultural Output by region for 2021.
| Regional Accounts for Agriculture 2021 | |||
| €m | €m | €m | |
| Operating Surplus | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Border | 412.7 | 402.0 | 412.4 |
| West | 364.0 | 442.3 | 452.5 |
| Mid-West | 494.1 | 572.6 | 647.6 |
| South-East | 444.4 | 472.9 | 607.3 |
| South-West | 687.4 | 731.9 | 947.4 |
| Dublin & Mid-East | 304.8 | 347.9 | 443.9 |
| Midland | 155.1 | 176.8 | 188.4 |
| State | 2,862.6 | 3,146.4 | 3,699.6 |
The Border region (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo) had the highest dependency on Pigs and Poultry, which each accounted for 11% of the value of the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. It also had the second largest dependency on Livestock, which generated 55% of the region’s output. It produced 71% of the country’s Poultry and 25% of both its Sheep and Pig production. It was also one of the smaller Milk and Crop producing areas, producing just 7% and 9% respectively of these items.
With a national growth rate of 14% for Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, the region’s rate was the lowest of all regions at just 8% (+€90m). The profile of its agriculture meant that it didn’t benefit as much as most others from the large increases in Milk and Cereal prices and was most affected by the 9% reduction in Pig prices. The value of its Cattle production increased by 12% (+€34m) to €315m while the value of its Sheep grew by 25%(+€18m) to €89m. Conversely, Pig producers saw a reduction in the value of their output, with Pig values falling by 5% (-€8m) to €142m.
The region’s Intermediate Consumption costs increased by 6% (+€47m) to €860m, with Feedingstuffs accounting for €40m of this increase. Fertiliser costs rose by 15% (+€9m) to €67m, while the cost of Energy & Lubricants rose by 14% (+€7m) to €58m. Operating Surplus for the region grew by 3% (+€10m) to €412m. (See Tables 1 and 2)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 25.4333711634184 |
| Sheep | 7.20764631528395 |
| Pigs | 11.4353289717254 |
| Milk | 19.74236526402 |
| Forage plants | 9.9019603024267 |
| All other crops | 5.62162824101262 |
| Other | 20.6576997421129 |
The West (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) was the largest Sheep producing region in 2021, producing 28% of Ireland’s Sheep output. It had the largest dependency on Livestock, which accounted for 56% of the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. As the smallest producer of Milk and Cereals in the country, generating just 4% of Milk output and 1% of Cereals, it benefitted least from the large increases in the value of these outputs.
The value of the West’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 11% (+€93m) to €946m. The value of Cattle production, which accounted for 42% of the value of the region’s outputs, making it the region with the highest dependency on Cattle, grew by 13% (+€44m) to €396m. The value of its Sheep production rose by 20% (+€16m) to €100m while the value of its Crops contracted by 1% (-€1m) to €202m. This was mainly due to a 3% reduction (-€5m) in the value of Forage Plants, which fell to €156m. Milk production increased by 24% (+€28m) to €142m.
Intermediate Consumption costs in the West grew by 12% (+€68m) to €649m. Feedingstuffs, Fertilisers, and Energy & Lubricants accounted for €25m, €14m and €12m of this increase respectively. The region had the lowest growth in Operating Surplus, which increased by just 2% (+€10m) to €453m. (See Table 1)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 41.8657919237051 |
| Sheep | 10.589871185262 |
| Pigs | 1.62152904129976 |
| Milk | 15.0427341592139 |
| Forage plants | 16.4857455093692 |
| All other crops | 4.89357411117661 |
| Other | 9.50075406997343 |
The Mid-West (Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary) was the largest Cattle and second largest Milk producing region in 2021, supplying 20% of Ireland’s Cattle and 21% of its Milk production. Cattle accounted for 30% of its Agricultural Output at Basic Prices while Milk generated a further 41%.
Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 13% (+€200m) to €1,710m. The value of its Cattle rose by 14% (+€61m) to €505m. The value of Pig production, which generated 5% of the region’s agricultural output, fell by 9% (-€7m) to €78m. The value of the region’s Milk production increased by 21% (+€125m) to €708m while the value of its Crops increased by 4% (+€10m) to €245m. Cereals accounted for almost all of this growth, increasing in value from €25m to €35m.
The region’s Intermediate Consumption costs increased by 9% (+€84m) to €1,038m. The cost of Feedingstuffs rose by 20% (+€53m) to €323m while the cost of Fertilisers increased by 18% (+€15m) to €97m. Expenditure on Energy & Lubricants was up by 22% (+€15m) to €83m. The region’s Operating Surplus grew by 13% (+€75m) to €648m in 2021. (See Table 1)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 29.5158481584177 |
| Sheep | 0.880426632032337 |
| Pigs | 4.58458999873204 |
| Milk | 41.41192326836 |
| Forage plants | 10.4316665928288 |
| All other crops | 3.87687524926798 |
| Other | 9.29867010036122 |
The South-East region (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) was the second largest producer of Crops in 2021, accounting for 20% of domestic production. It grew 29% of the State’s Cereals and 20% of its Potatoes. It was also the third largest Milk producing region, supplying 18% of Irish Milk output.
The value of the South-East’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 15% (+€217m) to €1,682m. The value of Cattle, which accounted for 20% of the region’s agricultural output, increased by 12% (+€37m) to €340m while the value of Pig production contracted by 5% (-€5m) to €87m. Milk production, which generated 37% of the region’s agricultural output, grew by 21% (+€108m) to €626m. Crop production increased by 16% (+€59m) to €435m with Cereals and Potatoes accounting for €37m and €10m of this growth respectively.
The region’s Intermediate Consumption costs rose by 6.2% (+€54m) to €923m. The cost of Feedingstuffs increased by 20% (+€43m) to €253m while expenditure on Energy & Lubricants rose by 18% (+€9m) to €58m. The region’s Operating Surplus increased by 28% (+€134m) to €607m in 2021. (See Tables 1 and 2)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 20.2061497479958 |
| Sheep | 1.98893146643798 |
| Pigs | 5.19648777123823 |
| Milk | 37.2112722426546 |
| Forage plants | 10.9216949755598 |
| All other crops | 14.946808096243 |
| Other | 9.52865569987055 |
The South-West region (Cork and Kerry) generated 21% of the State’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, the largest of all regions. It also spent the most on Fertilisers, accounting for 18% (€111m) of total expenditure on Fertilisers. It is the largest Milk producing region in the State, generating 32% (€1,090m) of Irish Milk production in 2021.
The value of the South-West’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 16% (+€302m) to €2,146m. Cattle generated 20% of the region’s output and increased in value by 13% (+€49m) to €433m. Milk accounted for 51% of the region’s output and its value increased by 27% (+€232m) to €1,090m. The value of its Crops increased by 6% (+€17m) to €316m, with Cereals accounting for €16m of this growth.
Intermediate Consumption costs increased by 10% (+€109m) to €1,186m. The increased cost of Feedingstuffs accounted for €62m of this increase while Other Goods & Services accounted for a further €26m. The region experienced the largest growth in Operating Surplus, which increased by 29% (+€216m) to €947m in 2021. (See Tables 1 and 2)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 20.1581802976849 |
| Sheep | 2.35820077548478 |
| Pigs | 4.92039252449288 |
| Milk | 50.7854727714456 |
| Forage plants | 9.14957981642019 |
| All other crops | 5.56040137514507 |
| Other | 7.06777243932662 |
As the largest producer of Cereals and Potatoes in the State, accounting for 36% and 55% respectively of the country’s output, the Dublin & Mid-East region (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow) benefitted most from the large increases in both the volume and price of these outputs. The value of its Cereal production increased by 68% (+€64m) to €158m while its Potato production rose by 55% (+€34m) to €96m.
The value of its Agricultural Output at Basic Prices grew by 19% (+€215m) to €1,377m, the largest increase of all regions. Livestock production rose by 12% (+€48m) to €438m, with Horses accounting for €21m of this growth. Cattle output grew by 12% (+€28m) to €260m while Sheep production increased by 15% (+€7m) to €52m. The value of Pigs contracted by 20% (-€8m) to €30m. Crop output rose by 27% (+€119m) to €566m.
Intermediate Consumption costs increased by 14% (+€93m) to €777m, the largest growth rate of all regions. The cost of Feedingstuffs, Fertilisers, and Energy & Lubricants grew by 17% (+€21m), 25% (+€19m) and 26% (+€12m) respectively. With its large concentration of Crops, the cost of Crop Protection Products increased by 48% (+€14m) to €45m. The region’s Operating Surplus grew by 28% (+€96m) to €444m. (See Table 1)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 18.9008945773195 |
| Sheep | 3.80614484785447 |
| Pigs | 2.20013916979505 |
| Milk | 21.5866089885272 |
| Forage plants | 11.8643305180923 |
| All other crops | 29.2151046292088 |
| Other | 12.4267772692027 |
The Midland region (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) generated 12% of the total value of Irish Livestock, 8% of its Milk and a further 8% of its Crops. Overall, it contributed just 5% to the value of Ireland’s agricultural Operating Surplus, the lowest of all regions.
The value of the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices increased by 11% (+€99m) to €1,007m. Livestock values grew by 8% (+€38m) to €482m, with Cattle accounted for €37m of this increase. With Pigs generating 10% of the region’s output, the second highest in the country, the fall in Pig prices combined with marginally lower production volumes resulted in the value of Pigs decreasing by 10% (-€11m) to €97m. While the value of Cereals was up by 51% (+€15m), some of this gain was offset by reductions in the value of Forage Plants (-4%, -€5m) and Other Crops (-62%, -€3m).
The region’s Intermediate Consumption costs increased by 9% (+€56m) to €692m. The cost of Feedingstuffs (+18%, +€29m), Fertilisers (+18%, +€11m), and Energy & Lubricants (+17%, +€8m) experienced the largest increases. The region’s Operating Surplus grew by 7% (+€12m) to €188m in 2021. (See Tables 1 and 2)
| X-axis label | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cattle | 32.9970745309877 |
| Sheep | 2.17492590919873 |
| Pigs | 9.59888707778445 |
| Milk | 28.5733649862236 |
| Forage plants | 11.5402837760235 |
| All other crops | 6.41614321944603 |
| Other | 8.69932050033595 |
Statistician's Comment
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in the Agricultural Accounts and Production Section, said: “This release provides a regional breakdown of the country’s agricultural outputs, inputs and income. It shows that while at a national level the value of Operating Surplus grew by 18% in 2021, there were significant differences between the regions. The South-West region had the largest growth rate in Operating Surplus in 2021 at 29%, followed by the South-East, and Dublin & Mid-East, both of which had growth rates of more than 27%.
Cereal and Milk production were some of the best performing sectors in 2021. The value of Cereals increased by 50% due to the impact of large increases in both volumes (+26%) and prices (+19%). The regions with the highest concentration of these activities (Dublin & Mid-East, and South-East) performed well in 2021. Milk values also grew significantly in 2021 because of both increased prices (+17%) and volumes (+ 5%). The South-West, which produced almost one-third of Irish Milk, gained most from these increases.”