Production yields of main cereal crops in Ireland fell 21% in 2023 compared with the previous year.
In total, there was a 530,000 tonne drop in the harvest of wheat, barley and oats, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Yields came under pressure last year due to competition among farmers for tillage land and poor weather conditions during the harvest period, which resulted in a proportion of crops being left uncut.
The figures released today also show the total potato harvest for 2023 fell by 12.5%, or 46,000 tonnes.
The potato harvest was also impacted by the bad weather late last year and some of the crop never left the fields.
Reacting to the figures, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Francie Gorman said it is further evidence of the pressures on the sector.
He said: "It further highlights the urgency of the Tillage Survival Scheme put forward by IFA.
"We raised this again with Taoiseach Simon Harris on a tillage farm in Kilkenny last week.
"No time can be lost in putting together a support package that provides some hope for the sector."
"Tillage farmers have faced a perfect storm since summer 2023, with falling grain prices; input costs remaining high; loss of rented land; and heavy rainfall in the period since," Mr Gorman said.
"There is no question that our tillage sector is fighting for its very future," he added.
