Agricultural output at basic prices saw an increase of 10% in Cork and Kerry
Nationally the agricultural output at basic prices grew by €1.4bn last year.
In 2025, Cork and Kerry saw the value of their agricultural output at basic prices grow by €259m or 10%.
The South-West region, comprising the two counties, is the largest agricultural and milk-producing region in the country, generating 21% of the State’s agricultural output at basic prices in 2025.
Milk was responsible for 47% of the region’s output, with the region producing 31% of all Irish milk.
Cattle accounted for 24% of the region’s output, and it is the second largest producer of cattle, generating 16% of the State’s output.
The region is also the second largest pig-producing region and was responsible for creating 21% of the total value of Irish pigs.
Crops accounted for 14% of the region’s output.
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On a national level, the agricultural output at basic prices grew by 12% (€1.4bn), to a total of €14bn last year. Cattle were the main contributor, increasing by 36% (€1.1bn) in value.
The overall value of livestock was up 25% (€1.2bn), with sheep accounting for an additional €7m (2%), horses an extra €45m (15%), and poultry a further €22m (9%).
The value of pigs dropped by €17m (2%), as a result of a 5% drop in prices; volume increases offset some of the impact of the lower prices.
Milk prices rose by 3% in 2025; with higher volumes, the value of milk grew by €316m (8%) to €4.5bn.
The value of crops fell by 3% (€87m) to €2.7bn, with prices down on average by 6%.
Large movements in prices were seen in cereal prices, down on average by 14%, and potato prices, down by 24%.
Fresh vegetables saw an increase of 15% in pricing in 2025, but a drop in yield of 9% offset some of the gains.
Intermediate consumption costs increased by 5% (€380m), with the main contributors coming from fertilisers increasing by €132m (22%) and maintenance and repair costs increasing by €107m (17%).
With higher value of agricultural output at basic prices combined with higher intermediate consumption costs, fixed capital consumption increasing by €8m, compensation of employees’ costs rising €95m, and an increase in payments for ‘other subsidies less taxes on production’ of €25m, resulted in an operating surplus increase of €985m to a total of €5.3bn in 2025.
The South-East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) region is the second largest producer of cereals, potatoes, and fresh fruit in the State, generating 17% of the total value of all Irish crops in 2025.
The region produces 19% of total Irish milk, with milk being responsible for 38% of the value of the region’s agricultural output at basic prices, with cattle and crops accounting for 25% and 21%, respectively.
The region’s output at basic prices increased by 10% to a total of €2.2bn.
The value of livestock grew by 23% to €780m, milk values were up 9% to €843m, and crops fell by 5% to €468m.
The Mid-West — consisting of Clare, Limerick and Tipperary — is the second largest contributor to agricultural output at basic prices and experienced the second highest growth rate in agricultural output at basic prices, which was up 14%, to €2.4bn.
The region is the largest producer of cattle at 19% and is the second most important agricultural output in the region, generating 34% of its output.
Milk is the region’s main agricultural output, comprising 38% of value at basic prices.
