Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most traditional economic activities in Estonia. It has provided us with food for millennia. Agriculture continues to be important in Estonia, supplying with food not only Estonia, but also other countries, and providing jobs for many people.

Agricultural statistics give an overview of the situation of agriculture in Estonia by month, quarter and year. Statistics Estonia publishes the following agricultural indicators for Estonia as a whole and for counties:

  • crop farming (areas, production, fertilisation);
  • animal farming (livestock, production, buying-in prices);
  • milk use (production of milk products);
  • organic farming;
  • creation of value from agriculture (production value, costs and value added);
  • sale and rent prices of agricultural land;
  • consumption of agricultural products;
  • labour force and other gainful activities;
  • production methods;
  • sizes and types of agricultural holdings.

Agricultural statistics are used to assess the situation of the sector, monitor production and consumption trends as well as food security.

  • The data of economic accounts for agriculture serve as a basis for national accounts.
  • The statistics of agricultural land prices reflect how direct support paid to agricultural producers affects the price of land.
  • Agricultural production and buying-in prices are used in economic accounts for agriculture.
  • Consumption data reflect national demand and consumption trends.
  • Collecting data on quantities of agricultural production allows assessing the country’s food self-sufficiency.

A major share of agricultural statistics in the European Union are collected using a common methodology. The statistics are used to prepare analyses and development plans and to assess the effectiveness of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

Agricultural statistics contribute important information for other areas as well. For example, in environmental policy, agricultural indicators are used in the compilation of national greenhouse gas inventories and in reporting under the EU Nitrates Directive and Water Framework Directive as well as under HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.

Utilised agricultural area 985,156 ha
-0.1%
2023
Organic crop area 231,011 ha
1.9%
2022
Cereal production 1,271,947 tonnes
-16.8%
2023
Potato production 101,250 tonnes
29.9%
2023
Milk production 227,762 tonnes
5.1%
Q3 2023
Meat production 27,843 tonnes
-7.5%
Q3 2023
Egg production 44,736 thousand pcs
9.7%
Q3 2023
Average purchase price of milk 411.4 euro/tonne
2.0%
OCTOBER 2023
Value of agricultural output 1,359,859.1 thousand euros
-16.6%
2023
Agricultural land and area under crops | 2021 – 2023
Unit: hectares
2021 2022 2023
Utilised agricultural area 986,672 986,206 985,156
Arable land 699,632 707,319 707,917
Cereals for the production of grain 367,117 361,823 351,233
Wheat 179,998 180,971 172,736
Common winter wheat 135,921 152,737 146,295
Common spring wheat 44,077 28,234 26,441
Rye 11,900 13,318 16,994
Barley 121,522 116,390 112,305
Winter barley 24,527 35,433 37,451
Spring barley 96,994 80,957 74,854
Oats 40,008 36,869 35,799
Spring cereal mixtures 334 286 181
Triticale 7,394 5,130 6,499
Buckwheat 5,961 8,859 6,719
Dry pulses 48,972 48,833 53,287
Field peas 33,096 37,255 42,749
Field beans 15,829 11,434 10,453
Other dry pulses 48 144 85
Potatoes 3,370 3,381 3,375
Fodder root crops 285 785 83
Industrial crops 85,313 95,655 82,415
Rape and turnip rape seeds 78,848 86,448 76,085
Winter rape and turnip rape seeds 66,934 77,680 69,992
Spring rape and turnip rape seeds 11,913 8,768 6,093
Linseed (oilfax) 198 116 64
Hemp 4,338 6,826 4,245
Aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants 1,236 1,049 813
Other industrial crops 694 1,216 1,208
Plants harvested green from arabe land 178,225 179,588 184,565
Green maize 13,019 16,191 19,041
Cereals and dried pulses harvested green 8,266 11,089 24,204
Other plants harvested green from arable land 2,079 3,297 3,525

Crop production per inhabitant | 2018 – 2022
Unit: kg
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Cereals 697 1,226 1,229 967 1,148
Potatoes 67 91 71 54 59
Vegetables 48 67 44 39 33

News

Agricultural production in Estonia increased again last year

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, 847,800 tonnes of milk and 79,900 tonnes of meat were produced in 2020. This is, respectively, 3% and 5% more than the year before. The utilised agricultural area without kitchen gardens increased by 3,000 hectares and totalled 983,000 hectares.
Read more 27. January 2021