Winter varieties drive cereal production up 15% in 2025

Last year, wheat, barley and oat production increased by 15% when compared to 2024 figures, mainly driven by the production of winter varieties of the cereals

Last year, cereal production increased by 15%.

Production of the three main cereals increased by 15% in 2025 when compared with 2024 figures.

The latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) report found the three main cereals — wheat, barley and oats — increased by 299,000 tonnes (14.9%) to a total of 2.3 million tonnes in 2025.

According to the report, the main driver of this rise was the increase in the production of winter cereals.

Winter wheat rose by almost 75% (74.7%) or 268,900 tonnes when compared to 2024. Winter oats totalled 163,200 tonnes in 2025, an increase of 152.4%, or 98,500 tonnes, and winter barley rose 49.5% (173,900 tonnes) when comparing the figures from 2025 and 2024, totalling a production of 525,300 tonnes.

CSO statistician in agriculture surveys Stephanie Kelleher said: “Some of the increase was offset by a decrease annually in the production of spring cereals. Spring wheat decreased by 18,600 tonnes (-34.7%), spring oats by 52,200 tonnes (-30.5%), and spring barley by 171,500 tonnes (-17.0%).” 

Beans and peas production totalled 77,600 tonnes in 2025, compared to 2024 figures, a drop of 19.3% or 18,600 tonnes. In the same period, oilseed rape was also down by 11%, or 7,300 tonnes, totalling 59,500 tonnes, but potatoes were up by 4.5% (16,600 tonnes) totalling 384,900 tonnes.

There was an increase in yield across all referenced crops in 2025, except the spring cereals, which decreased slightly.

Cereal yield rose 0.8 tonnes per hectare to 8.5 tonnes per hectare (9.8%), with winter wheat showing the greatest increase in yield from 8.9 tonnes per hectare in 2024 to 10.5 tonnes per hectare, or 18.9%, in 2025.

The yield in 2025 for beans and peas, oilseed rape, and potatoes was 0.2 tonnes per hectare, 0.9 tonnes per hectare, and 3.5 tonnes per hectare, higher than in 2024, totalling 5.3, 5.0 and 43.1 tonnes per hectare, respectively.

In 2025, the area under cereals rose by 11,900ha, or 4.6%, to a total of 270,800ha, aided by the increase in winter cereal production.

The area under beans and peas fell by 4,200ha (-22.2%) to 14,700 ha in 2025. Oilseed rape dropped from 16,100ha in 2024 to 11,800 ha in 2025 (-26.8%). The area under potatoes was down by 400ha (-4.0%) to 8,900ha in comparison with 2024.