Lower prices across the main livestock sectors in Northern Ireland (NI) during 2019 have hit farm incomes, with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) provisional estimates putting the total income from farming (TIFF) down 25% from £386m to £290m.

With the estimated value of 2019 direct payments (Basic Payment Scheme, Greening Payment and Young Farmers’ Payment) coming to £286m, it highlights just how reliant most farmers continue to be on this money to supplement their incomes.

Total gross output for agriculture in NI was 2% lower at £2.15bn in 2019. Dairying remains the largest contributor at £654m; a fall of 4%.

The output value of cattle was 7% lower at £427m in 2019. Sheep output decreased by 18% to £66m in 2019.

The value of output in the poultry sector reduced by 7% to £309m in 2019, while the egg sector was almost unchanged at £108m.

Increased output

The only two sectors to record increases were crops and pigs. Output of field crops was up 7% to £71m, due to higher yields and more winter crops harvested last autumn.

However, the output from pigs jumped 14% to £179m, on the back of an 11% increase in volume and a 2% increase in price.

Inputs

In terms of inputs, feedstuffs account for over half of all input costs. With slightly lower volumes fed in 2019, the total input cost was down 2% at £851m.

Expenditure on fertilisers and lime was unchanged at £85m, despite the volume of fertiliser used falling 10% on the back of good growing conditions in the early part of the year.

Farm incomes

Translating all this information into an estimate of individual farm business income (on farms with more than 0.5 of a standard labour requirement), the figures point to a significant downturn in 2019, even after direct payments are added in.

The lowest incomes are on cattle and sheep farmers in the lowland, which, at £9,809, are down 20% on 2018. Less favoured area cattle and sheep farms fair slightly better at £10,418.

Dairy farm incomes are at £51,964, a fall of 10%, and cereal (tillage) farms at £47,116, down 26%.

The only sector to see a rise in incomes is pigs, with an income of £84,863, an increase of 46%.

However, it is important to put this into context – there are only 180 farms in NI with more than 20 sows, and nearly 70% of sows are kept on only 38 farms.

DAERA figures also show that these pig farms receive much lower direct payments per business than their livestock or tillage counterparts.

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