Farming in Ireland Overview

Exports

Dairy cows pictured grazing the fields at Ring, overlooking Dungarvan bay in Co Waterford. Exports of food and drink from Ireland were worth €8.85 billion in 2011, with dairy and beef accounting for over 60% of the total. In terms of the destination of Irish food and drink exports in 2011, the United Kingdom at 41% was the principal market with sales of just over €3.66 billion. Continental EU markets accounted for 34% of food and drink exports with a combined value estimated in excess of €3 billion.

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Exports
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Exports

Dairy cows pictured grazing the fields at Ring, overlooking Dungarvan bay in Co Waterford. Exports of food and drink from Ireland were worth €8.85 billion in 2011, with dairy and beef accounting for over 60% of the total. In terms of the destination of Irish food and drink exports in 2011, the United Kingdom at 41% was the principal market with sales of just over €3.66 billion. Continental EU markets accounted for 34% of food and drink exports with a combined value estimated in excess of €3 billion.

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With fertile soils, a temperate climate and abundant rain water, Ireland has enviable natural advantages for farming the land to produce food, fibre and fuel. Aided by the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, Ireland’s climate is particularly suited for the growth of ryegrass, an excellent and inexpensive feed for livestock. This simple comparative advantage is the basis for much of Ireland’s farming today.

Farm produce

Today, beef and milk production are the two most important farming sectors in Ireland, accounting for around 61% of agricultural output. The scale of our farming output relative to our domestic population of 4.9m people mean that Ireland exports some 90% of its net beef output, making Ireland the largest beef exporter in Europe and one of the largest in the world (Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, 2019). Similarly, 85% of dairy output is exported.

The value of exports of Irish food and drink was almost €14.5 billion in 2019 (Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, 2020). Foodwise 2025, Ireland's agri-food strategy to 2025, aims to increase this to €19 billion by 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 2020). Plans are also underway to update Ireland's national agri-food strategy to 2030 (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 2019). 

Soil quality

Farming is spread throughout the 26 counties. Enterprises requiring better quality soil and generally level land such as tillage and dairying tend be concentrated in the east and south, while sheep and beef are the main enterprises in the west and north. However, as we will see later, each enterprise can be found in almost every county.

National ploughing championships

The National Ploughing Championships (www.npa.ie) take place each year in late September. It has grown into the largest event on the Irish farming calendar. Taking place over three days, the event is about far more than ploughing, with thousands of trade stands, demonstrations and retail outlets aimed at the farming community. The event takes place across a site running to hundreds of acres for the ploughing competitions, car parks and exhibitors. One of the attractions of the event is that it moves around the country to different locations. In 2011, an estimated 200,000 people attended over the three days in Athy, Co Kildare.

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National ploughing championships
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

National ploughing championships

The National Ploughing Championships (www.npa.ie) take place each year in late September. It has grown into the largest event on the Irish farming calendar. Taking place over three days, the event is about far more than ploughing, with thousands of trade stands, demonstrations and retail outlets aimed at the farming community. The event takes place across a site running to hundreds of acres for the ploughing competitions, car parks and exhibitors. One of the attractions of the event is that it moves around the country to different locations. In 2011, an estimated 200,000 people attended over the three days in Athy, Co Kildare.

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Statistics

In 2012, the CSO published the results of the Census of Agriculture 2010, which provides comprehensive statistics every ten years on all aspects of farming in Ireland (www.cso.ie). According to the census, Ireland had 139,829 active farm holdings on 1 June 2010. Livestock are central to Irish farming and 110,998 holdings had animals on their property in the 2010 census. The average size of each farm holding was 32.7 hectares or 80 acres, although it is important to note that many thousands of holdings are too small to justify full time employment.

In economic terms, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine estimates that in 2019 the agri-food sector in Ireland contributed €14.4 billion to the national economy, generated 4.3% of gross value added and provided 7.1% of national employment (Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, 2020).

Detailed analysis of the agriculture and food sector in Ireland is available from Teagasc, the State’s agriculture and food development authority (www.teagasc.ie).

Cattle show

During the Summer, agricultural shows are hosted by communities throughout Ireland. A calendar of dates is available from the Irish Shows Association at (www.irishshows.org). Breeders of pedigree cattle, sheep and horses compete for the coveted rosettes, while there are numerous other events to entertain and amuse. The largest show on the calendar is the national livestock show held each year in Tullamore, Co Offaly (pictured). It attracts over 50,000 people and in 2011 hosted 1,900 cattle classes, as well as sheep, horses and countless other attractions (www.tullamore.com)

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Cattle show
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Cattle show

During the Summer, agricultural shows are hosted by communities throughout Ireland. A calendar of dates is available from the Irish Shows Association at (www.irishshows.org). Breeders of pedigree cattle, sheep and horses compete for the coveted rosettes, while there are numerous other events to entertain and amuse. The largest show on the calendar is the national livestock show held each year in Tullamore, Co Offaly (pictured). It attracts over 50,000 people and in 2011 hosted 1,900 cattle classes, as well as sheep, horses and countless other attractions (www.tullamore.com)

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Information and growth

Bord Bia (www.bordbia.ie) the Irish food board, is another key resource for information on the Irish farming and food industry. Their mission is to “grow the success of a world class Irish food and horticulture industry by providing strategic market development, promotion and information services”.