Irish Dairy Farm Incomes Surge by 41% in 2025, Teagasc Reports
The Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) for 2025 reveals that the average family farm income on Irish dairy farms reached €153,319, up by 41% from 2024. The survey, published on July 6, indicates that the national average farm income across all types stood at €53,842, representing a 49% increase from the previous year.
In 2025, the survey covered 15,131 dairy farms, with an average size of 69 hectares. The increase in dairy farm income was attributed to a 4.8% rise in milk production and a higher average milk price, despite a decline in prices later in the year. The average income per hectare was €2,215, up from €1,556 in 2024.
The average milk price reported was 54 cents per litre, while the average cost of production was 36 cents per litre, widening the gap between these two figures. Teagasc noted that many farms operate differently in terms of these financial metrics.
The proportion of dairy farms with family farm incomes above €100,000 increased by 19 percentage points to 65% in 2025. Meanwhile, the percentage of farms earning below €30,000 dropped to 8% from 12% the previous year. Approximately 45% of dairy farms fell into the 50 to 100 hectares size category, with 26% between 30 and 50 hectares.
The average herd size in 2025 was 97 cows, with a stocking rate of 136 livestock units per hectare. Support payments averaged €361 per hectare, with Pillar I payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) contributing €245 per hectare. These payments represented 16% of the average dairy farm income, down from 22% in 2024.
Production costs remained stable, with a 1% increase from 2024 levels. Concentrate expenditure decreased by 2% to €60,868, while average fertiliser expenditure rose by 11% to €19,687. The average land rental price was €615 per hectare for dairy farms. Nearly 80% of dairy farmers rented additional land, maintaining a stable trend.
