Animal output prices fell by 2.9% in March compared with the previous month, with milk prices seeing a drop of 9.5%. Pig prices also fell by 2.4% compared with February, while cattle prices remained relatively the same.

On a yearly basis, the total agricultural output price index was down 8.1% in March 2016 compared with March 2015.

Animal output prices for March 2016 were down 10.2% compared with March 2015, with decreases in prices for cattle (-5.8%), pigs (-7.3%), sheep (-2.3%) and milk (-20.2%).

Meanwhile, crop output prices saw a slight decrease of 0.3% in March compared with the previous month. Overall, prices increased by 11.6% in March 2016 compared with March 2015, with potatoes seeing a 68.6% hike, followed by cereals (4.5%) and vegetables (2.3%).

Input prices

The agricultural input price index remained relatively the same, decreasing by 0.2%.

Motor fuels saw a slight increase of 1.4% in March compared with the previous month. Meanwhile, fertiliser prices and feed prices saw a slight decrease (-1.3% and -0.4% respectively). Price of seed also fell by 0.6%.

On a yearly basis, the total agricultural input price index was down 2.5% in March 2016 compared with March 2015. Motor fuel prices saw the biggest drop (-18.7%) compared with the same period last year, followed by fertilisers (-7.2%)

Glanbia holds milk price for April

CSO reveals milk prices down by almost 10% in March

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the agricultural output price index was down by 2.6% in March, with prices falling further in the dairy and pigmeat sectors.