Prices for agricultural outputs were down 15.3% in June 2026 compared to a year earlier, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today (August 14).

This was led by falls in the prices received by farmers for milk and cattle, though the price of wool was up 175.5% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the cost of agricultural inputs rose by 7.5% over the same period.

Commenting on the release, Cian O'Riordan, statistician in the CSO’s agriculture division, said: "The Agricultural Output Price Index for June 2026 fell by 15.3% when compared with June 2025.

“Prices for milk (-23.9%) and cattle (-12.2%) were lower compared with a year ago, while there were increases in the prices for eggs (+12.6%) and sheep (+12.4%).”

According to the CSO price index for June, cereals (including seeds) were down 10.8% year-on-year, vegetables by 7.5% for the same period, and potatoes by 30.5% year-on-year.

The report also indicated that animal output is down 15.8% for this period.

This includes a fall in cattle prices of 12.2% year-on-year, and pig prices by 17.9%.

However, sheep rose by 12.4%, and poultry by 3.8%.

Input prices

Meanwhile, overheads have risen across almost all categories.

O'Riordan said: "The Agricultural Input Price Index for June 2026 was 7.5% higher than in June 2025, while prices for motor fuels (+26.5%) and fertilisers (+23.6%) also rose when compared with a year ago."

Veterinary expenses are up 7.1% year-on-year, while maintenance costs for materials and buildings rose 3.4% in this period.

Feeding stuffs are up 1.3% year-on-year.

Prices

Looking at month-on-month, output prices in June 2026 decreased by 1.4% when compared with May 2026, driven by falls in the prices for cattle (-2.7%) and milk (-0.9%).

Terms of trade fell marginally by 0.9% in June 2026 when compared with May 2026 and was 21.2% lower when compared with June 2025.

The agricultural output price indices are intended to measure trends in the price of agricultural produce sold by farmers.

The agricultural input price indices are designed to measure trends in the price of farm inputs purchased for current consumption, such as non-capital materials and services.