Regional Accounts for Agriculture 2023

The Dublin & Mid-East Region (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow) is the largest producer of crops, growing 25% of Irish crops. It produced a third of all cereals, 57% of potatoes, and 66% of fresh fruit. It has the second lowest dependency on livestock, which accounted for just 32% of its Agricultural Output at Basic Prices. It produced 9% of Irish milk, with milk generating 21% of the region’s output.

Agricultural Output at Basic Prices fell by 13% (-€217m) to €1.5bn. Livestock production contracted by €1m to €489m, as a 22% (+€7m) increase in the value of pigs helped to offset reductions in the value of sheep and horses, which fell by 9% (-€5m) and 5% (-€4m) respectively. The region’s milk output contracted by 29% (-€131m) to €318m. Crops fell by 12% (-€86m) to €619m with cereals down 53% (-€131m) to €115m. The value of potato production increased by 38% (+€35m) to €125m. Fresh vegetables grew by 4% (+€3m) to €96m and fresh fruit fell by 2% (-€1m) to €39m.

Intermediate Consumption costs decreased by 1% (-€13m) to €939m. The cost of fertilisers dropped by 24% (-€40m) to €126m and expenditure on Other Goods & Services fell by 11% (-€8m) to €63m. The cost of seeds increased by 48% (+€11m) to €33m, while expenditure on Maintenance & Repairs grew by 9% (+€7m) to €84m and crop protection products were up 15% (+€5m) to €41m. The value of Other Subsidies less Taxes on Production decreased by 22% (-€43m) to €152m. The net impact of these and other changes on the region’s income was a fall of 39% (-€243m) to €385m in Operating Surplus, while its Entrepreneurial Income contracted by 50% (-€277m) to €272m (See Table 1.2).

Dublin & Mid-East Region Agricultural Output

Figure 7.1 shows the composition of Agricultural Output for the Dublin & Mid-East Region (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow) in 2023.