Welcome to your definitive Irish Agri Market Report for August 2025. We break down the latest prices and market trends for beef, dairy, grains, and key farm inputs. Whether you’re a full-time farmer, new entrant, or agri-curious, this analysis gives you the insight you need to plan ahead, spot opportunities, and understand what’s really shaping Irish agriculture.

Beef Prices: Stability Masks Real-World Pressures

National R3 steer base prices for July/August 2025 sit at €4.85/kg, virtually unchanged month-on-month. On paper, the “stability” is positive—but talk to any beef farmer and you’ll hear a different story: tighter margins, tough weather, and relentless cost pressure.
Mart prices for weanlings and store cattle are strong, especially for top-quality continental types. However, lower-grade animals and traditional breeds are trading at significant discounts.
Key factors:

• Retailers holding firm on beef contracts, citing flat consumer demand
• Export volumes steady but value under pressure due to global competition
• Farmers cautious—many choosing to hold stock due to uncertainty about autumn finish prices

Dairy: Recovery Holding—But Farmers Remain Cautious

Milk prices have clawed back some losses since spring, with co-ops paying 38–40c/L base for July milk. This is a marked improvement from the 34–36c/L lows in early 2025.
Butter and cheese exports are performing well, buoyed by EU and Asian demand, but spot prices for powders remain under pressure. Feed and fertilizer costs have stabilized, but input bills are still far above pre-2022 levels.
What’s next?

• Autumn calving herds are watching grass growth anxiously—recent drought in parts of the country has hit silage yields
• Most experts predict prices will remain “sticky” into Q4 unless there’s a global supply shock

Grain: Prices Under Pressure, Growers Adapt

Grain prices remain below last year’s highs, with green barley at €196–€203/tonne and wheat at €210–€217/tonne. A record global harvest, especially from Ukraine and Russia, is weighing on EU prices.
Irish growers are adjusting rotations, with a modest switch back to spring crops after disappointing winter yields.
Inputs: Fertilizer is much cheaper than this time last year, but crop protection and diesel remain costly.

Farm Inputs: Relief on Fertiliser, But Squeeze Remains

CAN prices have dropped to around €300–€320/tonne (down from €450+ in 2023), and protected urea is now €390–€410/tonne.
Diesel is stubbornly high at €1.55–€1.65/L, and feed for finishing cattle is holding at €370–€410/tonne, depending on protein.
Vet and machinery costs continue to climb, biting into profit even as headline prices for inputs improve.

Expert Commentary: What to Watch in Autumn 2025

“The Irish agri sector is showing resilience, but the big story for the second half of 2025 will be weather and global demand. Irish farmers are some of the most adaptable in Europe—watch for changes in grass management, cashflow strategies, and a sharper focus on cost efficiency.”
– John McCarthy, Farm Business Consultant

• Look out for a late flush of grass if August rain arrives (good for beef & dairy margins)
• Cash is king: input bills are still high, and many farmers are holding stock longer
• Regulatory pressure (water, nitrates, emissions) is rising—expect more scrutiny and new supports in Budget 2026

In Summary

The Irish agri sector faces another challenging but opportunity-filled autumn. Margins remain tight, but price stability is holding in most sectors. For the latest, bookmark our Market Dashboard or follow us for regular farm data updates.