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 983,374 ha
-0.4%
Organic crop area 231,011 ha
1.9%
2022
Cereal production 1,353,227 tonnes
12.7%
Potato production 87,326 tonnes
2.9%
Milk production 234,370 tonnes
5.6%
Q2 2024
Meat production 27,299 tonnes
1.5%
Q2 2024
Egg production 45,403 thousand pcs
12.3%
Q2 2024
Average purchase price of milk 414.2 euro/tonne
0.4%
AUGUST 2024
Value of agricultural output 1,312,783.2 thousand euros
-19.5%
2023
Agricultural land and area under crops | 2022 – 2024
Unit: hectares
2022 2023 2024
Utilised Agricultural Area 986,206 987,785 983,374
Arable land 707,319 711,325 705,769
Cereals for the production of grain 361,823 352,148 349,520
Wheat 180,971 173,565 173,338
Common winter wheat 152,737 146,537 139,994
Common spring wheat 28,234 27,028 33,344
Rye 13,318 16,903 18,338
Barley 116,390 112,326 95,329
Winter barley 35,433 37,636 31,035
Spring barley 80,957 74,690 64,294
Oats 36,869 35,722 48,343
Spring cereal mixtures 286 185 862
Triticale 5,130 6,644 6,304
Buckwheat 8,859 6,803 7,007
Dry pulses 48,833 53,338 60,460
Field peas 37,255 42,717 49,750
Field beans 11,434 10,537 10,653
Other dry pulses 144 84 57
Potatoes 3,381 3,457 3,183
Fodder root crops 785 83 33
Industrial crops 95,655 82,849 66,574
Rape and turnip rape seeds 86,448 76,486 60,211
Winter rape and turnip rape seeds 77,680 70,201 47,455
Spring rape and turnip rape seeds 8,768 6,285 12,756
Linseed (oilfax) 116 77 88
Hemp 6,826 4,243 4,080
Aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants 1,049 823 766
Other industrial crops 1,216 1,220 1,428
Plants harvested green from arabe land 179,588 185,584 205,068
Green maize 16,191 19,189 21,327
Cereals and dried pulses harvested green 11,089 24,855 19,921
Other plants harvested green from arable land 3,297 3,487 3,775

Crop production per inhabitant | 2019 – 2023
Unit: kg
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Cereals 1,226 1,229 967 1,148 879
Potatoes 91 71 54 59 62
Vegetables 67 44 39 33 32