Regional Accounts for Agriculture 2022

The West (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) was the smallest agricultural producing region in Ireland, generating just 9% (€1.1bn) of the State’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. It was however the largest Sheep producing region in the country, accounting for 28% of national output. It had the largest dependency on Livestock, which generated 52% of the region’s Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. It was also the smallest producer of Milk and Cereals in the country, generating just 4% of the State’s Milk and 1% of its Cereals. The region thus benefitted least from the large increases in the price of these outputs.

The West, at 21%, had the smallest growth in the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices, which increased by €195m to €1.1bn. The value of Cattle, which accounted for 40% of the region’s outputs, making it the region with the highest dependency on Cattle, grew by 16% (+€63m) to €459m. Sheep values increased by 3% (+€4m) to €105m. The value of its other livestock rose by €3m to €33m. Milk contributed €223m to the region’s output, up 58% (+€82m). While the value of its Cereal production was up 91% in the year, it nevertheless was still only worth €10m to the region. The overall value of its crops grew by 14% (+€29m) to €229m, with Forage Plants accounting for €177m of the value of Crops.

Intermediate Consumption costs in the West was up 21% (+€140m) to €799m, the lowest rate of increase in the State. Feeding Stuffs, Fertilisers, and Energy & Lubricants accounted for €39m, €42m and €23m of this increase respectively. The region had the second lowest growth in Operating Surplus, which rose by 19% (+€85m) to €523m (See Tables 1.2 and 3.1).

West Region Agricultural Output

Figure 3.1 shows the composition of Agricultural Output for the West Region (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) in 2022.