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 982,440 ha
-0.5%
Organic crop area 231,011 ha
1.9%
2022
Cereal production 1,303,530 tonnes
8.6%
Potato production 74,668 tonnes
-12.0%
Milk production 226,755 tonnes
1.9%
Q4 2024
Meat production 29,404 tonnes
1.0%
Q4 2024
Egg production 49,859 thousand pcs
10.9%
Q4 2024
Average purchase price of milk 480.2 euro/tonne
3.0%
DECEMBER 2024
Value of agricultural output 1,287,890.1 thousand euros
-1.9%
2024
Agricultural land and area under crops | 2022 – 2024
Unit: hectares
2022 2023 2024
Utilised Agricultural Area 986,206 987,785 982,440
Arable land 707,319 711,325 705,400
Cereals for the production of grain 361,823 352,148 349,184
Wheat 180,971 173,565 173,320
Common winter wheat 152,737 146,537 139,999
Common spring wheat 28,234 27,028 33,321
Rye 13,318 16,903 18,235
Barley 116,390 112,326 95,056
Winter barley 35,433 37,636 30,947
Spring barley 80,957 74,690 64,109
Oats 36,869 35,722 48,358
Spring cereal mixtures 286 185 905
Triticale 5,130 6,644 6,368
Buckwheat 8,859 6,803 6,943
Dry pulses 48,833 53,338 60,414
Field peas 37,255 42,717 49,675
Field beans 11,434 10,537 10,682
Other dry pulses 144 84 57
Potatoes 3,381 3,457 3,176
Fodder root crops 785 83 33
Industrial crops 95,655 82,849 66,579
Rape and turnip rape seeds 86,448 76,486 60,247
Winter rape and turnip rape seeds 77,680 70,201 47,489
Spring rape and turnip rape seeds 8,768 6,285 12,758
Linseed (oilfax) 116 77 88
Hemp 6,826 4,243 4,067
Aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants 1,049 823 760
Other industrial crops 1,216 1,220 1,417
Plants harvested green from arabe land 179,588 185,584 205,304
Green maize 16,191 19,189 21,325
Cereals and dried pulses harvested green 11,089 24,855 19,957
Other plants harvested green from arable land 3,297 3,487 3,780

Crop production per inhabitant | 2020 – 2024
Unit: kg
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Cereals for the production of grain 1,229 967 1,148 879 948
Potatoes 71 54 59 62 54
Vegetables 44 39 33 32 24