Overall farm inputs have increased by 2.2% between 2018 and 2019, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

This increase has been influenced by the tillage sector, where the largest increase was in seeds, which is up by 8.8% compared with 2018 figures.

Output figures show that pigs remain as the leading sector, with increased demand for pig exports to Asia resulting in a 37.6% increase in output value over 2018.

Calf demand

Demand for calves resulted in a 20.9% increase over the same period. Adverse weather conditions saw much of the potato crop remaining underground and was reflected in the price index that showed a drop of just over 31% compared with the previous year.

Cereals (including seeds) was also affected by the weather, leaving the crop outputs over 27% behind the 2018 figures.

Read more

TAMS grant for solar panels on farms

IFA potato report: some early planting under way in Louth and Wexford