Agricultural output prices fall for fifth consecutive month

The Central Statistic Ofiice (CSO) index of prices paid to farmers has fallen for the fifth month in a row.

Most recent data shows that the agricultural output price index for September eased by 3.4% in the month since August 2025.

This reduction has been driven mainly by a 5.5% cut to milk price and a 3.7% drop in the price beef farmers are receiving, according to the CSO.

However, the input price index all dropped in the month to September by 0.3%.

Meanwhile, terms of trade fell by 3.1% in September 2025 when compared with the previous month and was 4.8% higher when compared with September 2024.

Looking at the data over the last 12 months, the CSO's overall agricultural output price index increased by 7.8% while the input price index rose by 2.9%.

Compared with the same month in 2024, the most substantial increases within the output price index were seen in cattle (+47.3%), sheep (+6.4%), and poultry (+5.0%).

The index of prices paid for pigs fell by 11.9% during this period while milk decreased by 11.6%.

Within the input price index, fertilisers were up 14.8%, veterinary expenses were up 4.7% and electricity increased by 2.4% when compared with September 2024.