The area of tillage crops increased by just 1.46% in 2025 and failed to meet the Government’s target of reaching 360,000ha of tillage crops by 2025 set out in the Climate Action Plan. The overall target is to reach 400,000ha by 2030.
Final figures have been released by the Department of Agriculture which showed that 346,980ha of tillage were planted across Ireland in 2025. This was actually an increase of about 4,984ha from 2024.
The figures were updated from provisional figures released in the summer. Spring barley area declined by 22,300ha in 2025, see table 1 below. Spring beans area declined by almost 4,000ha, while oilseed rape area declined by over 4,100ha.
Total oats area increased by over 4,000ha in 2025. Spring oats area declined by over 6,250ha and winter oats area increased by 10,580ha. Winter barley area increased by 14,400ha. Spring wheat area declined, while winter wheat area increased. Maize area declined by 1,133ha, while rye increased by 1,136ha.
Of the 346,980ha of tillage, a total of 276,260ha were made up of barley, wheat, oats, rye and triticale. That area increased by 14,499ha in 2025. The over 8,100ha drop in oilseed rape and beans area most likely contributed to the rise in the main cereals area.
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