Regional Accounts for Agriculture 2023

The West (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) is the smallest agricultural producing region in Ireland, generating just 9% (€1.0bn) of the State’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. Despite this, it was the second largest contributor to agricultural Entrepreneurial Income, accounting for almost 18% of the country’s total. Milk accounted for just 14% of its Agricultural Outputs at Basic Prices, the lowest of all regions, with cereals generating under 1%. The region has the highest dependency on livestock, particularly on cattle and sheep. Cattle generated 44% of its output and as the largest sheep producing region in the country, sheep contributed 9% to the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices.

At 8%, the West experienced the second smallest drop in Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, which fell to €1.0bn. The value of its cattle grew by €1m to €460m while sheep contracted by 8% (-€9m) to €96m. Pigs contributed an additional €1m (+6%) to output, bringing their value to €18m. Milk fell by €77m (-35%) to €145m. Despite cereals decreasing by 49% to €5m, there was only a marginal change in the value of the region’s crops, which rose by €1m to €230m.

Intermediate Consumption costs were down 6% (-€46m) to €756m, the highest rate of decline in the State. The cost of fertilisers fell by 37% (-€40m) to €68m, expenditure on Energy & Lubricants contracted by 13% (-€11m) to €72m and contract work decreased by 13% (-€10m) to €64m. Maintenance & Repairs costs were up €15m to €72m. The value of Other Subsidies less Taxes on Production fell by 8% (-€28m) to €321m, the smallest regional rate of reduction. The West also had the lowest rate of decline in income, with its Operating Surplus down 17% to €434m and its Entrepreneurial Income decreasing by 19% to €380m (See Table 1.2).

West Region Agricultural Output

Figure 3.1 shows the composition of Agricultural Output for the West Region (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) in 2023.