Input costs for farmers have risen by nearly 40% in the 12 months to August, according to the latest Central Statistics Office's Agricultural Price Indices today.
The release also show that output prices, which are what farmers are paid for their produce, rose substantially, but fell short of input increases.
Overall, input prices rose by 38.2% but much steeper increases were seen on a number of products. Fertiliser prices rose 127%, while energy prices were up 41% and feed prices rose by 36%.
The CSO notes the overall input price increased marginally from July to August by 0.1% and that sharper prices increases were seen in the first half of the year.
Output prices rose 1.2% from July to August, but prices increases for some products were higher. Cattle prices were up 5.2%, pig prices gained 3.5% and milk prices rose by 1.3%
Since last August the price farmers are getting for their milk has risen by nearly 52%, cattle farmers are getting 24.4% more but crop prices rose by just 0.3%.
