Joe Cooney
Ceist:617. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the increase in the cost of production of milk products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 April 2025
Ceisteanna (617)
Freagraí scríofa
At the outset I will state, as Minister for Agriculture I do not have a role in setting or controlling prices for any commodity. My Department does however, as part of its role in supporting the sector, monitor developments in prices received and costs borne by Irish farmers. The Central Statistics Office reports in Agricultural Outputs, trends in prices paid to farmers for their produce, and Agricultural Input, prices paid by farmers for purchases of goods and services, on a monthly basis.
Over the 12 months to January 2025, the overall Agricultural Output Price Index (i.e. prices) rose by over 20%. The first monthly indications for 2025 are positive with Output Prices rising by 2% compared to the previous January and input costs falling by almost 5%.
At present, the current trends for dairy farmers are positive with regard to input prices and output prices. Milk experienced a significant Agricultural Output Price increase of 33.6% in the 12-month period to January 2025. In the same period, the price of agricultural inputs fell by 3.7%, with notable reductions in the prices of electricity at over 8%, feed at over 7% and fertilisers at almost 7%.
The value of Agricultural Output rose by 8% to 12.2bn in 2024. This was driven mainly by a 17% increase in milk prices as milk accounts for one-third of the value of Agricultural Output overall.
These trends can however change, and my Department closely monitors them reflecting the volatile nature of input and output prices in the agri-food sector.
I will continue to work with dairy farmers and industry stakeholders and our state bodies, including Teagasc and Bord Bia, to address current and future challenges in the development of the sector and to create new and diverse market opportunities for dairy produce.