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For more information on this release:
E-mail: agri@cso.ie Paul Deane (+353) 21 453 5560 Angela Hickey (+353) 21 453 5316
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 1393-6867
CSO statistical release, , 11am

2017

ProductionCerealsPotatoes
     '000 tonnes
20162,311352
20172,393412
% change+3.5+17.2

Cereal Production up 3.5% in 2017

Figure 1 Cereal Production
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Overall production of the three main cereals (wheat, oats and barley) increased by 82,000 tonnes to 2,393,000 tonnes in 2017. Overall cereal yield increased by 6.8% to 8.8 tonnes per hectare, while the total area under cereals decreased by 8,700 hectares (-3.1%) to 271,700 hectares. The production of spring barley increased by 9.4% (+78,000 tonnes), while the production of winter barley decreased by 8.1% (-52,000 tonnes) in 2017. See Tables 1- 3. 

The yield of potatoes increased by 15.4% from 38.9 tonnes per hectare in 2016 to 44.9 tonnes per hectare in 2017, resulting in an increase in production of 60,000 tonnes (+17.2%) to 412,000 tonnes. 

Further comparisons with the 2016 results show that:

  • Wheat production was up by 5.2% (+34,000 tonnes). The area sown decreased by 900 hectares (-1.3%) but the yield increased by 6.6%.
  • Oats production was up by 11.8% (+22,000 tonnes).The area sown increased by 1,200 hectares (+5.3%) and the yield increased by 6.2%.
  • Oilseed rape production was up by 22.2% (+8,000 tonnes). The area sown increased by 200 hectares (+2.3%) and the yield increased by 19.5%.
Winter Wheat Spring WheatWinter OatsSpring Oats Winter Barley Spring BarleyBeans and PeasOilseed RapePotatoes
201053213780682459782528420
2011793136719832610861656356
20126268268883209412059232
20134221234314934213212349410
201466354886255911722034383
2015610861059371210276940360
201658760110736448367134352
201762755129765929149042412
Table 1 Area under Crops
DescriptionJune 2015June 2016June 2017   Change 2016 - 2017
          ' 000 hectares' 000 hectares%
Wheat - total65.367.967.0-0.9-1.3
   Winter wheat55.360.460.3-0.1-0.2
   Spring wheat10.17.56.8-0.8-10.2
      
Oats - total23.423.224.41.25.3
   Winter oats11.413.214.41.28.8
   Spring oats12.110.010.00.10.7
      
Barley - total202.8189.2180.2-9.0-4.8
   Winter barley69.874.665.0-9.6-12.9
   Spring barley133.0114.6115.20.60.5
      
Wheat, oats, barley - total291.6280.3271.7-8.7-3.1
      
Beans and peas10.712.513.71.29.9
Oilseed rape8.99.910.10.22.3
Potatoes8.59.09.20.11.5
Table 2 Yield of Crops
Description201520162017   Change 2016 - 2017
             tonnes per hectaretonnes per hectare%
Wheat - total10.79.510.20.66.6
   Winter wheat11.09.710.40.76.8
   Spring wheat8.68.08.20.22.0
      
Oats - total8.47.98.40.56.2
   Winter oats9.28.38.90.67.2
   Spring oats7.77.37.60.33.9
      
Barley - total8.67.88.40.56.9
   Winter barley10.28.69.10.55.5
   Spring barley7.77.37.90.68.8
      
Wheat, oats, barley - total9.08.28.80.66.8
      
Beans and peas6.55.76.60.916.2
Oilseed rape4.53.54.10.719.5
Potatoes42.338.944.96.015.4
Table 3 Production of Crops
Description201520162017   Change 2016 - 2017
          ' 000 tonnes' 000 tonnes%
Wheat - total697648682345.2
   Winter wheat610587627396.6
   Spring wheat866055-5-8.4
      
Oats - total1981832052211.8
   Winter oats1051101291816.7
   Spring oats93737634.6
      
Barley - total1,7391,4801,506261.8
   Winter barley712644592-52-8.1
   Spring barley1,027836914789.4
      
Wheat, oats, barley - total2,6342,3112,393823.5
      
Beans and peas6971902027.7
Oilseed rape403442822.2
Potatoes3603524126017.2

Background Notes

Introduction   

This release presents final estimates of the area, yield and production of the main arable crops in 2017 together with the comparable estimates for 2015 and 2016. The June 2015 – June 2017 estimates for the area under crops shown in Table 1 have been obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Basic Payment Scheme.      

The yield estimates are obtained from a joint survey conducted by Teagasc and the CSO.

Methodology   

The yield figures are given on a “green” (as harvested) basis. The winter wheat yield refers to feed wheat. Similarly, the spring barley yield refers to feed barley. The oilseed rape yield is a weighted average of the winter and spring yield.

The bean and pea yield is the weighted average of pea and bean yield.

For potatoes, the early crop yield was applied to a proportion of the area under potatoes based on an estimate of the area sown under early potato varieties in each county. The main crop yield was applied to the remaining area. 

The State yield figure is generally calculated by multiplying the area figure by the average yield figure at a county level and then aggregating to the State level. The State production figure is then calculated by multiplying the State area, as per the Basic Payment areas from DAFM, by the State yield figure.

As a result of rounding there may be slight discrepancies between the sum (or difference) of the constituent items and the total shown. Percentage changes have been calculated on actual figures.

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