Tillage area looks set to decline this year based on figures obtained by the Irish Farmers Journal from industry.

Overall, the area of cereals, potatoes, maize, beet, peas, beans, protein mix crops and oilseed rape is set to fall by almost 2,300ha, based on estimated figures. The Department of Agriculture should have preliminary figures in the coming weeks, once BISS applications are completed.

This means tillage crop area will come to approximately 344,675ha, down from 346,954ha in 2025. Based on our estimates, that equates to a decline of about 0.66%. The area had increased in 2025 by almost 5,000ha.

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Tillage farmers got off to a good start last autumn. Winter crops were planted in good conditions and it was no surprise that winter barley (up almost 9,000ha) and winter wheat (up over 1,500ha) increased. Farmers also took the opportunity to plant oilseed rape and estimates suggest that crop hit around 17,000ha, up about 5,000ha on 2025. Oilseed rape prices have improved so this decision may pay off.

Oats area has declined dramatically. Total oats area is currently estimated at around 21,000ha, down from 34,000ha in 2025. This reflects the loss of premium markets and the lack of markets for oats in animal feed, as oats sat in sheds across the country this year unsold, or were sold at unattractive prices.

Spring barley area is down, but it’s a hard one to put a final figure on, as some farmers are still planting this week. Beans have remained stable, while the protein, cereal mix crop is expected to increase. Peas are estimated up and look to be becoming more popular among farmers.

Potato area is estimated to have dropped by around 500ha, that’s about a 6% drop. Beet area is estimated down about 10%. A number of crops remained in fields up to recently with no sale, while some was pitted. Maize is estimated up by over 1,000ha.

It’s important to note these figures are estimated based on industry insight, but they give a fairly accurate picture of where crop areas will land.

Target

The sector has moved further away from the 400,000ha target of tillage crops by 2030 outlined in the Climate Action Plan. Fertiliser and fuel prices are up and while grain prices are up slightly they remain volatile, resulting in tillage farmers being worried about incomes this season.

This week neither Taoiseach Micheál Martin or Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon gave any commitment to increased tillage funding. At the opening of the new Diageo brewery (page 16) on Monday Taoiseach Mícheál Martin said: “I think we’re very strongly supporting tillage farmers and we’re very keen to support tillage farmers”.

He was responding to a question from the Irish Farmers Journal on support for tillage in relation to the Government delivering €30m of the €67m or so outlined before the election by both parties for the sector.

Minister Martin Heydon said the €30m support package was well received and added that: “The real future for our tillage sector is adding value. It’s developing a quality assurance scheme. It’s making sure our native grains are used more widely. The investment of Diageo here is a good example.”

Comment

With the tillage area loss down by less than 1%, as has happened before, it allows politicians to say the area is stable. Unfortunately crop area is down and it is still a large loss, particularly to the farmers who have had to exit from some land. It is also important to note that there is likely a higher decline on speciality tillage farms, meaning those farms are losing scale. It is likely more maize, protein crops and spring barley are being grown on livestock farms.