Agriculture in Ireland

Last updated
Crop fields and a farm in County Laois LaoisFarmFields.jpg
Crop fields and a farm in County Laois

Agriculture in Ireland began during the neolithic era, when inhabitants of the island began to practice animal husbandry and farming grains. Principal crops grown during the neolithic era included barley and wheat.

Contents

Following the Acts of Union 1800, the majority of rural Irish workers participated in the agricultural sector of Ireland's economy.

Cows in County Kildare, Ireland CowsIreland.jpg
Cows in County Kildare, Ireland

History

Prehistory and early history

Since the Ice age the underlying geology of the island of Ireland has led to the formation of base rich soils, which combined with the temperate maritime climate has meant the island has been a place well-suited to the cultivation of grass and the rearing of cattle. The soils in Ireland are active biologically and are typically moderately leached. [1]

During the Ireland's neolithic era, which lasted from around 4000 B.C. until 2500 B.C., Ireland saw its first instances of animal husbandry and the farming of grains. [2] :228 The era saw the introduction of cattle and sheep as domesticated animals into Ireland and saw the start of dairy production in Ireland. [2] :228 [3] Large herbivorous mammals such as the European Elk and the Aurochs were not naturally present on the island at that time, showcasing the importance of managing cattle as a food source. [3]

The principle crops during the neolithic era in Ireland were species of barley and wheat. [4]

Medieval history

During the medieval era in Ireland, recognized as the period from 400 AD to 1150 AD, many facts and figures are still unknown or vague to our discovery and understanding. Evidence from archaeological sites concludes that hulled barley and oats were the primary crops cultivated at this time. Other crops such as wheat, flax, pea, and bean have been discovered at these archaeological sites as well; however, only occasionally, suggesting their subordinate position in medieval agriculture production. Furthermore, towards the later half of the medieval period, studies have proved an increase in crop variety being discovered in more site locations, suggesting an overall increase in arable tillage throughout Ireland. [5]

Early modern history

In the years following the Acts of Union 1800, the majority of the Irish rural laborers participated in agriculture. Most rural laborers did not sustain themselves based solely upon their wages, but also had to cultivate a small plot of land to sustain themselves. Irishmen ordinarily rented this land from landlords in exchange for their labor, rather than paying for rent with money. [6] :10 Much of the land was rented as a conacre, an arrangement in which farmers were granted the right to farm a plot of land but did not create a landlord-renter contract, though this practice was more common in Connacht and Munster than in Lenister and Ulster. [6] :11

Great Famine

A starving Irish family from Carraroe, County Galway, during the Great Famine in Ireland Irish family from Carraroe, County Galway, during the Famine.jpg
A starving Irish family from Carraroe, County Galway, during the Great Famine in Ireland

From 1821 to 1841 the agricultural labour force grew by half, the cost would have to have been met by a difficult to achieve 1% annual growth in production. In 1845, potatoes accounted for a little under a third of tilled acreage in Ireland, with it being the food source that three million people were exclusively dependent on. In the 1830s and the beginning of the 1840s, a large part of livestock numbers were exported and also up to one quarter of grain that was produced. [7]

From 1840 to 1845 the labour force involved in agriculture was 1.6 million people. The Great Famine caused the death of an estimated 1 million people. Potato acreage, over 2 million acres in 1845, reduced more than half to a little over 1 million acres in 1846, to 0.3 million in 1847 and back up to 0.7 million acres in the year 1848. [7]

In 1854 total agricultural output in Ireland had a value of £47.4 million. In the decades following the famine, the majority of merchandise exports were still due to agriculture, farming accounted for a third of national output and over half the working population were employed in the occupation. [7]

Post-famine

Throughout the twentieth century, agricultural land in Ireland increasingly shifted away from use as arable land and increasingly towards use as pasture. [8] :169–170

Following on from the first inter-country ploughing championship held in 1931 in Athy, Kildare, a popular yearly event in Ireland is the National Ploughing Championships; in 2018 it drew 281,000 visitors over three days. [9] [10]

The liberation of the Irish Free State from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland brought about differences in agricultural development throughout all Ireland. [8] :167 In 1926, a few years after the conclusion of the Irish Civil War, the majority of the Free State's employment was generated from the agriculture industry, while about one-quarter of the employment of Northern Ireland was in the agricultural sector. After the 1932 Irish general election resulted in a Fianna Fáil government, the Free State adopted significant protectionist policies ordered towards ensuring agricultural self-sufficiency. [8] :167

The protectionist policies ordered by Fianna Fáil had substantial effects on the agricultural sector in Ireland. With respect to international trade, the U.K. retaliated against newly-adopted Irish agricultural and land policies with tariffs against certain Irish agricultural products, including cattle; agricultural exports from the Free State to the United Kingdom were cut in half during the first half of the 1930s. [8] :167 The policies also distorted the domestic market for several agricultural goods, especially wheat, which by 1936 had a domestic price of over double the that of the commodity on the global market. [8] :169

Types of farming

Dairy Farming

Irish cattle Ireland Cattle.jpg
Irish cattle

Dairy farming, or dairying, is Ireland's most profitable branch of agriculture, with over 18,000 dairy farmers harvesting around 1.55 million dairy cows. The large scale on which Ireland's dairy farming operates is a possibility due to Ireland's temperate maritime climate. Such a climate provides farmers with a large window to grow the substantial amounts of grass necessary to supply the immense cow population in a cost-efficient manner. [11] Furthermore, the grass-based food source naturally available to the population of cows creates a sustainable production process aiding in the production of over 5.4 billion liters of milk annually. The grass-based food source, in part harvested from the thousands of acres of fields covering Ireland, can be attributed to the high quality and nutritious dairy products produced. [12]

Beef Farming

Ireland has an extensive history of farming beef, dating back thousands of years. Currently, cattle farming remains one of Ireland's most prominent sectors, with over 6.5 million cows on Irish farms, accounting for over 25 percent of agriculture output. Ireland's national breeding herd comprises 1.5 million dairy cows and 889,000 suckler cows, making Ireland's suckler cow herd the third largest in the world, following France and Spain. [13] Furthermore, Ireland is noticed as a significant competitor in beef exports on the world stage, accounting for about 1.6 billion euros in exports yearly. Ireland exports the majority of their beef to the European Union, while the United Kingdom can be recognized as its largest consumer. [14]

Tillage Farming

Silage harvesting in Clonard, County Meath Silage Harvesting Cadamstown.jpg
Silage harvesting in Clonard, County Meath

Tillage farming, the soil preparation for planting and cultivating the earth after planting, is another important sector in Ireland's agriculture. [15] Ireland mainly takes part in the production of mono-crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. Furthermore, potatoes remain a significant item in the Irish diet. However, Ireland imports significantly more potatoes than it exports. Irish farmers have exited the sugar farming market despite the 150 million euros previously produced annually due to global competition and labor costs related to sugar production. Ireland also hosts one of the world's highest potential for crop yield, presenting approximately 300,000 hectares of land solely dedicated to tillage farming. Ireland's vast farming land has allowed for the opportunity for farmers to break into the emerging organic tillage market as organic grains are becoming increasingly more demand throughout the world. [16]

Regulation

The agricultural industry in Ireland is under the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara). Bord Bia is responsible for promoting the food and horticultural products of the industry, and Teagasc has a role in research and providing information to farmers. Dairy farmers are held to high standards making the quality of dairy products a significant factor in the operation of such businesses. Dairy farmers in Ireland are supervised by and regularly undergo inspections, product sampling, and audits through the Dairy Controls and Certification Division to ensure that specific standards are fulfilled. [17]

Trade

Imports

In 2020, Ireland's imports of Agri-food products totalled $10.626 billion. Despite Ireland's prominent agriculture productions, Ireland imports around 80 percent of its animal feed, food, beverages, and other Agri-food products. While Agri-food products are mainly provided by the United Kingdom, Ireland imports goods from several other countries such as France, Netherlands, and Italy. [18]

Exports

In 2021, exports from Ireland of food, drink and horticulture (Agri-food) had a value of €13.5 billion, with international markets outside of the European Union and United Kingdom accounting for 34% of exports, and the European Union itself being the largest export destination at €4.5 billion value. International markets outside of the EU and UK accounted for 34% Of Ireland's exports, €5 billion of which were from the dairy industry, with €3.5 billion from meat and livestock; of those beef exports constituted €2.1 billion, pig-meat €542 million, sheep-meat €420 million and primary poultry at €128 million . [19] [20]

Agriculture today

Agriculture in Ireland is a major component of the modern economy of the Republic of Ireland. [21] A major livestock producer, Ireland has very limited horticultural and grain production on account of its topography and climate. Ireland manufactures many derivatives and value-added products from its livestock base. However, much of its beef and dairy products are exported. Ireland imports around 80 percent of its animal feed, food, and beverage needs. Ireland receives a considerable proportion of its agricultural commodity and grocery product needs from the United Kingdom, although this declined by 25 percent in the first half of 2021 on account of additional customs and logistical complexities following the U.K.'s departure from the European Union. Ireland also imports from E.U. countries such as the Netherlands (beer, cut flowers), France (beer, wine), and Italy (wine, non-alcoholic beverages). Major third country trading partners are Chile (wine, apples), Argentina (wine, animal feed), and New Zealand (wine, bovine semen). Ireland is a key destination for U.S. animal feed ingredient exports. However, the United States is currently not a major direct supplier of food and beverage products. Ireland generally receives many U.S. products including wine, fresh and dried fruit, and confectionery via the U.K., but some products may now route to Ireland via France or the Netherlands, or be shipped directly from the United States post-Brexit. [22]

As of 2018, the Central Intelligence Agency estimates that 66.1% of Ireland's land is used for agriculture; 50.7% of Ireland's land is permanent pasture, while 15.4% of its land is arable. Major agricultural products of Ireland include milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, poultry, mushrooms/truffles, and mutton. [23]

According to a September 2020 report by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 164,400 Irish citizens are employed in the agricultural industry, comprising 7.1% of Ireland's workforce. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural subsidy</span> Governmental subsidy paid to farmers and agribusinesses

An agricultural subsidy is a government incentive paid to agribusinesses, agricultural organizations and farms to supplement their income, manage the supply of agricultural commodities, and influence the cost and supply of such commodities.

Teagasc is the semi-state authority in the Republic of Ireland responsible for research and development, training and advisory services in the agri-food sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Australia</span> Overview of agriculture in Australia

Although Australia is mostly arid, the nation is a major agricultural producer and exporter, with over 325,300 people employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing as of February 2015. Agriculture and its closely related sectors earn $155 billion a year for a 12% share of GDP. Farmers and grazers own 135,997 farms, covering 61% of Australia's landmass. Across the country, there is a mix of irrigation and dry-land farming. The success of Australia in becoming a major agricultural power despite the odds is facilitated by its policies of long-term visions and promotion of agricultural reforms that greatly increased the country's agricultural industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Canada</span> Overview of agriculture in Canada

Canada is one of the largest agricultural producers and exporters in the world. As with other developed nations, the proportion of the population agriculture employed and agricultural GDP as a percentage of the national GDP fell dramatically over the 20th century, but it remains an important element of the Canadian economy. A wide range of agriculture is practised in Canada, from sprawling wheat fields of the prairies to summer produce of the Okanagan valley. In the federal government, overview of Canadian agriculture is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural research in Israel</span>

Agricultural research in Israel is based on close cooperation and interaction between scientists, consultants, farmers and agriculture-related industries. Israel's climate ranges from Mediterranean (Csa) to semi-arid and arid. Shortage of irrigation water and inadequate precipitation in some parts of the country are major constraints facing Israeli agriculture. Through extensive greenhouses production, vegetables, fruits and flowers are grown for export to the European markets during the winter off-season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Argentina</span> Primary sector in Argentina

Agriculture is one of the bases of Argentina's economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Kazakhstan</span>

Agriculture in Kazakhstan remains a small scale sector of Kazakhstan's economy. Agriculture's contribution to the GDP is under 10% – it was recorded as 6.7%, and as occupying only 20% of labor. At the same time, more than 70% of its land is occupied in crops and animal husbandry. Compared to North America, a relatively small percentage of land is used for crops, with the percentage being higher in the north of the country. 70% of the agricultural land is permanent pastureland.

Agriculture in Lithuania dates to the Neolithic period, about 3,000 to 1,000 BC. It has been one of Lithuania's most important occupations for many centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in South Korea</span>

Agriculture in South Korea is a sector of the economy of South Korea. Korean agriculture is the basic industry of the Korean economy, consisting of farming, animal husbandry, forestry and fishing. At the time of its founding, Korea was a typical agricultural country, with more than 80% of the population engaged in agricultural production. After land reform under the Lee Seung-man administration, economic revitalization under the Park Chung-hee military government and the wave of world trade liberalization that began in the 1980s, Korean agriculture has undergone dramatic changes. Through the Green Revolution, Korea became self-sufficient in rice, the staple food, in 1978, and in 1996, Korea became the first Asian country after Japan to mechanize its agriculture with fine-grained cultivation. The development of Korean agriculture has also led to the development of agriculture-related industries such as fertilizer, agricultural machinery and seed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Saskatchewan</span> Agriculture of the Province Saskatchewan in Canada

Agriculture in Saskatchewan is the production of various food, feed, or fiber commodities to fulfill domestic and international human and animal sustenance needs. The newest agricultural economy to be developed in renewable biofuel production or agricultural biomass which is marketed as ethanol or biodiesel. Plant cultivation and livestock production have abandoned subsistence agricultural practices in favor of intensive technological farming resulting in cash crops which contribute to the economy of Saskatchewan. The particular commodity produced is dependent upon its particular biogeography or ecozone of Geography of Saskatchewan. Agricultural techniques and activities have evolved over the years. The first nation nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle and the early immigrant ox and plow farmer proving up on his quarter section of land in no way resemble the present farmer operating huge amounts of land or livestock with their attendant technological mechanization. Challenges to the future of Saskatchewan agriculture include developing sustainable water management strategies for a cyclical drought prone climate in south western Saskatchewan, updating dryland farming techniques, stabilizing organic definitions or protocols and the decision to grow, or not to grow genetically modified foods. Domestically and internationally, some commodities have faced increased scrutiny from disease and the ensuing marketing issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Turkey</span> Farming of plants and animals in Turkey

Agriculture is still an important sector of Turkey's economy, and the country is one of the world's top ten agricultural producers. Wheat, sugar beet, milk, poultry, cotton, vegetables and fruit are major products; and Turkey is the world's largest grower of hazelnuts, apricots, and oregano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in New Zealand</span> Overview of agriculture in New Zealand

In New Zealand, agriculture is the largest sector of the tradable economy. The country exported NZ$46.4 billion worth of agricultural products in the 12 months to June 2019, 79.6% of the country's total exported goods. The agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector directly contributed $12.653 billion of the national GDP in the 12 months to September 2020, and employed 143,000 people, 5.9% of New Zealand's workforce, as of the 2018 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in the United Kingdom</span> Economic sector in the United Kingdom

Agriculture in the United Kingdom uses 69% of the country's land area, employs 1% of its workforce and contributes 0.5% of its gross value added. The UK currently produces about 60% of its domestic food consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in England</span>

Agriculture in England is today intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 2% of the labour force. It contributes around 2% of GDP. Around two thirds of production is devoted to livestock, one third to arable crops. Agriculture is heavily subsidised by the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy.

The economy of Saskatchewan has been associated with agriculture resulting in the moniker "Bread Basket of Canada" and Bread Basket of the World. According to the Government of Saskatchewan, approximately 95% of all items produced in Saskatchewan, depend on the basic resources available within the province. Various grains, livestock, oil and gas, potash, uranium, wood and their spin off industries fuel the economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Bolivia</span>

The role of agriculture in the Bolivian economy in the late 1980s expanded as the collapse of the tin industry forced the country to diversify its productive and export base. Agricultural production as a share of GDP was approximately 23 percent in 1987, compared with 30 percent in 1960 and a low of just under 17 percent in 1979. The recession of the 1980s, along with unfavorable weather conditions, particularly droughts and floods, hampered output. Agriculture employed about 46 percent of the country's labor force in 1987. Most production, with the exception of coca, focused on the domestic market and self-sufficiency in food. Agricultural exports accounted for only about 15 percent of total exports in the late 1980s, depending on weather conditions and commodity prices for agricultural goods, hydrocarbons, and minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Paraguay</span> Economic sector in Paraguay

Throughout its history, agriculture in Paraguay has been the mainstay of the economy. This trend has continued today and in the late 1980s the agricultural sector generally accounted for 48 percent of the nation's employment, 23 percent of GDP, and 98 percent of export earnings. The sector comprised a strong food and cash crop base, a large livestock subsector including cattle ranching and beef production, and a vibrant timber industry.

Agriculture has historically been the primary industry of the English county of Cheshire. Dairy farming has predominated, and the county was particularly known for cheese-making.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Flanders</span>

Agriculture and horticulture in Flanders has traditionally a familial character, but just like agriculture in other regions, is increasingly characterised by an increase in scale, modernisation and expansion. In Flanders, intensive sectors constitute the largest segment of agriculture: pig breeding, poultry and dairy farming, vegetables and fruit, ornamental plant culture. In Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium, the emphasis is more on arable farming and extensive soil-based cattle breeding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Wales</span> Cultivation of plants and animals in Wales

Agriculture in Wales has in the past been a major part of the economy of Wales, a largely rural country which is part of the United Kingdom. Wales is mountainous and has a mild, wet climate. This results in only a small proportion of the land area being suitable for arable cropping, but grass for the grazing of livestock is present in abundance. As a proportion of the national economy, agriculture is now much less important; a high proportion of the population now live in the towns and cities in the south of the country and tourism has become an important form of income in the countryside and on the coast. Arable cropping is limited to the flatter parts and elsewhere dairying and livestock farming predominate.

References

  1. Collins, James F. (2016). "Geology, Soils and Cattle Production". In Kelly, Fergus; McAdam, James H.; O'Connell, Michael (eds.). Cattle in Ancient and Modern Ireland - Farming Practices, Environment and Economy. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 1–11. ISBN   978-1-4438-8895-0.
  2. 1 2 Taylor, Karen J; Potito, Aaron P; Beilman, David W; Ghilardi, Beatrice; O'Connell, Michael (3 February 2017). "Impact of early prehistoric farming on chironomid communities in northwest Ireland". Journal of Paleolimnology. 57 (3): 227–244. Bibcode:2017JPall..57..227T. doi:10.1007/s10933-017-9942-6. S2CID   132999962.
  3. 1 2 Woodman, Peter (2016). "The Introduction of Cattle into pre-historic Ireland". In Kelly, Fergus; McAdam, James H.; O'Connell, Michael (eds.). Cattle in Ancient and Modern Ireland - Farming Practices, Environment and Economy. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 12–26. ISBN   978-1-4438-8895-0.
  4. McClatchie, M.; Bogaard, A.; Colledge, S.; Whitehouse, N.; Schulting, R.; Barratt, P.; McLaughlin, T. (6 April 2016). "Farming and foraging in Neolithic Ireland: an archaeobotanical perspective". Antiquary. 90 (350): 302–318. doi:10.15184/aqy.2015.212. hdl: 10026.1/4431 . S2CID   163596174.
  5. McClatchie, Meriel; McCormick, Finbar; Kerr, Thomas R.; O’Sullivan, Aidan (2015-01-01). "Early medieval farming and food production: a review of the archaeobotanical evidence from archaeological excavations in Ireland". Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. 24 (1): 179–186. doi:10.1007/s00334-014-0478-7. ISSN   1617-6278. S2CID   161091510.
  6. 1 2 O'Brien, George (1921). The Economic History of Ireland From the Union to the Famine. London: Longmans, Green, and Co.
  7. 1 2 3 O Grada, Cormac (1988-03-31). Ireland Before and After the Famine: Explorations in Economic History, 1800-1925. Manchester University Press.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Gilmour, Desmond A. (1989). "The Political Factor in Agricultural History: Trends in Irish Agriculture, 1922-85". The Agricultural History Review. 37 (2). British Agricultural Society: 166–179. JSTOR   40274666 via JSTOR.
  9. Cox, Valerie (2017). A Ploughing People: Farming Life Celebrated, Stories, Traditions, The Championships. Ireland: Hachette Books Ireland. p. 4. ISBN   978-1-473-65945-2.
  10. "National Ploughing Championships 2017: Tractor highlights on-site". Agriland. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  11. "Dairy - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority". www.teagasc.ie. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  12. "Dairy Farming in Ireland". Agri Tours Ireland. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  13. "Beef - Beef farming and its challenges in Ireland". www.teagasc.ie. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  14. "Cattle Farming in Ireland". Irish Food Hub. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  15. "Tillage | Definition, Types, Equipment, Practices, Importance, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  16. "Cereals, Potatoes & Tillage" . Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  17. "Dairy". www.gov.ie. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  18. "Ireland - Agricultural Sector". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  19. "Irish Food and Drink Exports Enjoyed a Record Year as Value of Sales Up 4% to €13.5bn in 2021". Bord Bia. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  20. "Irish agri-food exports worth record €13.5 billion in 2021". Independent.ie. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  21. "Agriculture in Ireland - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority". www.teagasc.ie. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  22. "Ireland - Agricultural Sector". International Trade Administration. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved 1 June 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  23. "Ireland", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2022-05-25, retrieved 2022-06-01PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  24. Fact Sheet on Irish Agriculture (Report). Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. September 2020.