Provisional figures from DAERA suggest that the total income from farming (TIFF) in NI rose by 87% during 2017 from £253m to £473m, the highest figure ever recorded in NI. The last time TIFF broke the £400m barrier was in the mid-1990s.

One of the main factors behind the increase is the weakening of sterling against the euro during the second half of 2017 which increased the value of direct farm subsidies to £287m, an increase of 5% on 2016 levels. Direct payments still account for over 60% of total farm income.

However, incomes in some sectors are also up significantly, particularly dairying and pigs. Meanwhile, beef and sheep incomes are actually down from previous years.

DAERA forecast that dairy farm incomes will rise 232% in 2017/18 to an average of £78,364 per farm, compared with £23,618 for the previous year.

Incomes on cattle and sheep farms have been affected by poor weather in the second half of 2017 leading to higher costs, and are projected to be down by 1% on LFA farms to £21,183, with lowland farms down by 4% to £15,913.

Incomes from cereals are also down, by 23% to £12,718, as weather also affected harvesting and reduced yields. However, pig farms should see a 48% rise in income to £86,925.

Gross output

Total gross output across all agri-sectors rose 17% to £2.09bn.

Dairy remains the largest contributor to gross agricultural output with a value of £662m during 2017, an increase of 42%. The output value of cattle rose 6% to £460m, boosted by a 9% increase in beef prices.

The output value of sheep fell 2% to £73m, with pigs up by 35% to £163m, eggs up 5% to £100m and poultry meat up 9% to £275m.