Make every decision count with live market trends, advanced analytics, and community knowledge—your one-stop hub for smarter, more sustainable farming.
See what's involved in raising livestock or growing crops:
November opens amid softening dairy, firm beef, and a cautious tillage outlook. Irish farm markets are settling into a wetter winter pattern. Milk processors are trimming prices as global butter and cheese values fall, beef factories remain well-supplied but prices are stable near record highs, and cereal growers continue to monitor grain markets and euro–dollar trends. Across all sectors, input costs — especially feed and fertiliser — remain the key margin pressure.
Irish R3 steer prices are averaging €7.40–7.50/kg deadweight in early November, with heifers slightly higher at €7.50–7.70/kg. This is broadly in line with EU young bull R3 benchmarks and continues to reflect tight prime cattle availability.
Industry projections suggest total finished cattle supplies could fall by 5–8% into late 2025, helping underpin strong prices through winter. However, heavier carcase weights, retail resistance to further price inflation, and patchy export demand could cap significant upside.
Co-ops have applied modest reductions, leaving most November milk in the 49–51 c/L all-in range for average solids. This reflects weaker butter, cheese and powder returns from EU and global auctions, though absolute price levels remain historically strong.
With typical production costs in the 36–39 c/L band, margins are tightening but remain positive on well-run farms. The focus now is on cashflow management, cost control over the winter, and planning for 2026 contracts.
Feed wheat is guiding around €210–215/t and feed barley around €200–205/t, with MATIF futures and currency shifts adding volatility.
While fertiliser and fuel have eased back from 2023 peaks, they remain well above pre-crisis norms. Net tillage margins continue to lag stronger livestock systems, making forward planning, costed rotations and disciplined input buying critical.
Heavy rain has accelerated housing on many farms and reduced late-season growth. Fodder and straw demand is rising earlier than usual, particularly in higher rainfall regions.
Farms should complete silage analysis and a full winter feed budget now. Where fodder deficits appear, options like purchased silage, hay, beet pulp or maize should be secured early to avoid scarcity or panic buying after Christmas.
Advice: Finish and market fit cattle promptly; protect milk quality bonuses and review winter rations; for tillage, lock in key 2026 inputs where value is clear; across all sectors, stress-test cashflow and build adequate winter and early-spring feed cover.
If both units are set explicitly, conversion is ignored.
