(AGENPARL) - Roma, 20 Agosto 2026 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS
20 August 2026
Northern Ireland agricultural incomes in 2025
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published the first (provisional) estimate for farm incomes in 2025. Revisions have been made to previous years.
Aggregate Agricultural Income
Provisional figures indicate that the 'Total Income from Farming' (TIFF) in Northern Ireland increased by 40.5% (35.6% in real terms) from £736million in 2024 to £1.03billion in 2025.
TIFF represents the return on own labour, management input and own capital invested for all those with an entrepreneurial involvement in farming. It represents farm income measured at the sector level. Graph 1 ( shows TIFF from 1990 to 2025.
Total Gross Output for agriculture in Northern Ireland was 12% higher at £3.62billion in 2025. There was a 13% increase in the value of output from the livestock sector, while field crops increased by 0.3% and horticulture decreased by 9%. These figures are for the calendar year and therefore they represent the outturn across two harvest years. Graph 2 ( shows Northern Ireland Agricultural Gross Output from 1990 to 2025.
Dairying remains the largest contributor to the total value of Gross Output at £1.2billion in 2025; an increase of 11% between 2024 and 2025. The annual average farm-gate milk price increased by 3% to 42.5 pence per litre while the volume of raw milk produced in Northern Ireland increased by 8% to 2.8billion litres.
The output value of cattle was 37% higher at £898 million in 2025. The total number of animals slaughtered decreased by 4.4% in 2025, whereas the average carcase weights for clean and cull animals were 0.9% and 0.1% higher respectively. These changes resulted in the volume of meat produced being 3.6% lower in 2025. The average producer price for finished clean cattle was £6.33 per kilogram in 2025 while the average producer price for cull animals was £4.88 per kilogram. These prices were 32% and 54% higher than their respective averages for 2024. In addition to these changes, there was also a stock change of minus £7million due to a reduction in the number of cattle on ground between 2024 and 2025.
The value of output from sheep decreased by 6% to £120million in 2025. The total number of sheep slaughtered decreased by 16% in 2025 whereas the average carcass weight increased by 3% to 22.6 kilograms. The volume of sheep meat produced decreased by 14% in 2025. The average producer price increased by 2% to £6.55 per kg.
The value of output in the poultry sector decreased by 13% to £304million in 2025 while the egg sector increased by 17% to £317million. The value of output in the pig sector also decreased by 1% to £294million. The poultry sector recorded an 8% decrease in its production volume for 2025, whereas the pigs and eggs sectors recorded a 2% and 17% increase in their respective production volumes when compared with their previous year levels. Producer prices in the poultry and pig sectors decreased by 5% and 3% respectively, whereas the producer price for eggs increased by 1%.
The total output value for field crops increased by 0.3% in 2025 to £89million. The value of output for cereals increased by 10% to £42million whereas the value of output for potatoes decreased by 16% to £28million. The value of output for other crops increased by 10% to £19million. Output values for field crops are across a calendar year and include production from two harvests.
The value of output recorded in the Horticulture sector was lower year on year for 2025, at £85million. Mushrooms are the main contributor to this sector in value terms with an estimated output value of £41million.
The estimated value of the 2025 direct payments (Basic Payment Scheme, Young Farmers', Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme and Suckler Cow Scheme Payments) was £303million, representing a decrease of 1%, when compared with the 2024 payments.
The total value of Gross Inputs increased by 2% in 2025, to £2.18 billion. Graph 3 ( shows the breakdown of Northern Ireland Agricultural Gross Input from 1990 to 2025. Feedstuffs costs, which accounted for 55% of the total Gross Input estimate, decreased by 0.1% to £1.19billion in 2025. There was a 6% increase in the volume of feedstuffs purchased and a 6% decrease in the average price paid per tonne.
The total cost of fertilisers in 2025 increased by 33%, with a 20% increase in the volume purchased and a 10% increase in the average price paid per tonne. There was also a 19% rise in the value of total lime purchases, with the result that total expenditure on fertilisers and lime increased by 32% to £133million.
Total machinery expenses increased by 1% to £212million in 2025, as a result of a 5% increase in the cost of repairs, partially offset by a 3% decrease in the cost of fuel and oils.
