Northern Ireland agricultural incomes in 2024
Date published:
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published the first (provisional) estimate for farm incomes in 2024. 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 62.5% (56.2% in real terms) from Pound 471million in 2023 to Pound 766million in 2024.
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 2024.
Total Gross Output for agriculture in Northern Ireland was 8% higher at Pound 3.19billion in 2024. There was a 9% increase in the value of output from the livestock sector, while field crops increased by 3% and horticulture increased by 10%. 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 2024.
Dairying remains the largest contributor to the total value of Gross Output at Pound 1.1billion in 2024; an increase of 21% between 2023 and 2024. The annual average farm-gate milk price increased by 17% to 41.0 pence per litre while the volume of raw milk produced in Northern Ireland increased by 4% to 2.6 billion litres.
The output value of cattle was 4% higher at Pound 658million in 2024. The total number of animals slaughtered increased by 8.3% in 2024, whereas the average carcase weights for clean and cull animals were both 0.3% lower. These changes resulted in the volume of meat produced being 8.2% higher in 2024. The average producer price for finished clean cattle was Pound 4.78 per kilogram in 2024 while the average producer price for cull animals was Pound 3.17 per kilogram. The prices for finished clean cattle were 4% higher while cull cattle prices were 2% lower than their 2023 averages. In addition to these changes, there was also a stock change of minus Pound 36 million due to a reduction in the number of cattle on ground between 2023 and 2024.
The value of output from sheep increased by 8% to Pound 123million in 2024. The total number of sheep slaughtered decreased by 9% in 2024 whereas the average carcass weight increased by 1% to 22 kilograms. Volume of sheep meat produced decreased by 8% in 2024. The average producer price increased by 16% to Pound 6.39 per kg.
The value of output in the poultry sector decreased by 7% to Pound 356million in 2024 while the egg sector increased by 16% to Pound 264million. The value of the pig sector also decreased by 1% to Pound 295million. All intensive sectors recorded an increase in production volumes, with poultry up by 3%, eggs up by 7%, and pigs up 1% compared with the previous year. Producer prices in the poultry and pig sectors decreased by 10% and 3% respectively, whereas, the producer price for eggs increased by 8%.
The total output value for field crops increased by 3% in 2024 to Pound 89million. The value of output for cereals decreased by 6% to Pound 38million whereas the value of output for potatoes increased by 10% to Pound 34million. Value for other crops increased by 16% to Pound 17million. 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 higher year on year for 2024, at Pound 93million. Mushrooms are the main contributor to this sector in value terms with an estimated output value of Pound 40million.
The estimated value of the 2024 direct payments (Basic Payment Scheme, Young Farmers' and Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme Payments) was Pound 304million, representing an increase of 1%, when compared with the 2023 payments.
The total value of Gross Inputs decreased by 3% in 2024, to Pound 2.09billion. Graph 3 shows the breakdown of Northern Ireland Agricultural Gross Input from 1990 to 2024. Feedstuffs costs, which accounted for 57% of the total Gross Input estimate, decreased by 4% to Pound 1.18billion in 2024. There was a 7% increase in the volume of feedstuffs purchased and a 12% decrease in the average price paid per tonne.
The total cost of fertilisers in 2024 decreased by 11% with a 21% increase in the volume purchased and a 27% decrease in the average price paid per tonne. There was also a 16% rise in the value of total lime purchases, with the result that total expenditure on fertilisers and lime decreased by 10% to Pound 101million.
Total machinery expenses decreased by 1% to Pound 199million in 2024, as a result of an 8% decrease in the cost of fuel and oils.
A detailed document covering the period 2019-2024 and containing all the key figures used to derive TIFF in Northern Ireland can be downloaded from the DAERA website.
Estimates for the United Kingdom were released on 05 June 2025 and can be downloaded from the DEFRA website.
Farm level incomes
Farm Business Income by farm type for 2023/24 with forecasts for 2024/25 are presented in graph 4 and table 1. These income results are based on farm accounts collected as part of the Northern Ireland Farm Business Survey (FBS). This is a representative sample of farms larger than 0.5 Standard Labour Requirements. The income figures presented are for accounting years with an average end date of mid-February.
Farm Business Income measured across all farm types is expected to increase from an average Pound 29,260 in 2023/24 to Pound 60,622 in 2024/25, i.e. an increase of Pound 31,361 or 107% per farm.
Farm Business Income is also expected to increase (by varying amounts) for each of the individual farm types between 2023/24 and 2024/25. In each case the upturn in their incomes is attributable to lower feed and fertiliser prices combined with more favourable prices for milk, beef, and lamb in the 2024/25 year. Additionally, there was better overall cereal yields experienced during the 2024/25 year.
A detailed analysis of farm incomes by type and size of farm in 2023/24 will be provided in the report 'Farm Incomes in Northern Ireland 2023/24' which will be published on the DAERA website in July 2025.
