Farmers received 4.5% more for their milk and 4.6% more for their pigs in September in comparison with August, accounting for most of the monthly 1.8% increase in the agricultural output price index. However, cattle prices fell by 1.7%.
Compared with September last year, farmgate prices remained 2.2% lower. While the dairy recovery is beginning to show on an annual basis (+1.9% year-on-year), cereal prices remain 2.3% lower than last year and cattle prices 6.9% lower. This is particularly significant for calves, with prices nearly 10% below last year’s.
Only pig prices are now significantly higher than at the same time last year (+10.9%).
Fertiliser cheaper
Input prices remained static overall. While energy costs increased, with motor fuels going up 3% in September, the cost of fertiliser continued to decrease (-1.3%). Fertilisers are now 21.3% cheaper than in September 2015.
There were no significant changes in other input costs, with feed prices dropping only marginally in September (-0.3%).
The overall increase in farmgate prices is the strongest rebound since they started to fall in the spring of 2015. The agricultural output price index has now recovered the ground lost since last March.
With costs remaining static and prices increasing, the farming sector’s gross margin increased by 1.8% in September compared with August.
Read more
Lakeland sets milk price for October
Cork Marts pulls out of calf exports
More demand for beef cattle but prices slow to move
Farmers received 4.5% more for their milk and 4.6% more for their pigs in September in comparison with August, accounting for most of the monthly 1.8% increase in the agricultural output price index. However, cattle prices fell by 1.7%.
Compared with September last year, farmgate prices remained 2.2% lower. While the dairy recovery is beginning to show on an annual basis (+1.9% year-on-year), cereal prices remain 2.3% lower than last year and cattle prices 6.9% lower. This is particularly significant for calves, with prices nearly 10% below last year’s.
Only pig prices are now significantly higher than at the same time last year (+10.9%).
Fertiliser cheaper
Input prices remained static overall. While energy costs increased, with motor fuels going up 3% in September, the cost of fertiliser continued to decrease (-1.3%). Fertilisers are now 21.3% cheaper than in September 2015.
There were no significant changes in other input costs, with feed prices dropping only marginally in September (-0.3%).
The overall increase in farmgate prices is the strongest rebound since they started to fall in the spring of 2015. The agricultural output price index has now recovered the ground lost since last March.
With costs remaining static and prices increasing, the farming sector’s gross margin increased by 1.8% in September compared with August.
Read more
Lakeland sets milk price for October
Cork Marts pulls out of calf exports
More demand for beef cattle but prices slow to move
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