Agriculture

Agricultural statistics aims at assessing the performance of agriculture. In connection with crop production the statistical domain takes account of the utilisation, rent and sales price of productive land, and the sales of produced products. It also includes data on livestock and the production and sales of animal products. The effects of agriculture on the environment are substantially influenced by the technology used in production, so the statistical domain covers data for example on organic farming and the use of plant protection chemicals. A farm structure survey as well is made at intervals of several years, in which the number, size and labour input of holdings are surveyed.

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Hungary, 2022

The processes taken place in 2022 were mainly determined by the uncertain global environment due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the general and considerable price increases worldwide. Despite these challenges, the Hungarian economy's performance expanded by 4.6% year-on-year, above the EU average. Employment reached a new record high and average earnings rose significantly, but the impact of this was gradually eroded by surging inflation. Population decline continued at a lower pace than in the previous year.

Pig prices to rise again from February

The price of pigs for slaughter in Hungary has started to rise again from February 2023, in April (713 HUF/kilogram) it was more than a fifth higher than in the same period of the previous year. The price of chickens for slaughter has been above HUF 500 since December 2022 and was 27% higher in April than a year earlier. The price of cattle for slaughter is currently at the April 2022 price level. The price of milk has been falling steadily for five months, but in April it was still 26% higher and eggs (48 forints per piece) 61% higher than in the same month of 2022.

Prices of agricultural products fell in April 2023

The increasingly slow rise in agricultural prices in Hungary since October 2022 turned into a fall in April 2023, with prices 7.2% lower than in the same period of the previous year. Prices of crops and horticultural products fall for the second month in a row - down 19% in April compared with the same period last year - driven by a fall in the prices of cereals and oilseeds. However, the price of live animals and animal products continues to rise, up 23% in April compared to April 2022.

Livestock, 1 December 2022

In line with EU trends, there was a decrease in the populations of all major livestock species by the end of 2022. Livestock numbers were unfavourably affected by fodder prices, having risen because of the poor cereal production, and by drastically increased energy prices, which caused a significant price rise, and, through this, a decrease in the demand. Many farmers disposed of a part of their livestock or finished their activities.

Harvest results of main crops, 2022

Because of the extreme drought, the harvest of the main field crops was significantly lower in 2022 than in the previous year. 10% less barley, 21% less wheat, harvested in the largest quantity, and 57% less maize, exposed the most to the drought, were reaped. The yield of sunflower, despite the growth in its production area, was down by 29% and that of rape, grown on a smaller area than previously, by 31%. As an impact of crop failures and uncertainties in supplies, procurement prices rose to record levels.

Procurement down because of low yields of arable crops in previous year

The volume of procured agricultural products fell by 22% in the 1st quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year. Because of the crop failure caused by the drought, the decrease was 48% for cereals and 41% for industrial crops. Farmers sold 7.1% less vegetables and 4.1% less fruits. The procurement of live animals was 1.2% higher and that of animal products 6.4% lower than in January–March 2022, the increase for the former being consistent with a relatively low base.