Farmers are facing a financial squeeze from soaring fertiliser costs and falling prices for their produce, the Irish Farmers' Association has warned.

Fertiliser prices have more than doubled, up by 133%, energy prices are up by more than half and feed prices for livestock are up by more than a third over the past 12 months, official figures show.

Irish Farmers' Association president Tim Cullinan said the figures from the Central Statistics Office show the gap is widening between the cost of production for farmers and what they are being paid.

Despite the surging price for farmers, fresh veg on supermarket shelves is up only 2.8%, while potatoes are down in price by almost 3% and fresh fruit is up only 2.2%, according to the latest official figures.

It leaves farmers "struggling to keep pace with the surging price of inputs", according to Mr Cullinan.

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Farmers simply cannot continue to absorb the gap between the cost of producing food, and what they are paid, he warned.

At the IFA's pre-Budget meeting with Oireachtas members, he said the Government would have to bring in targeted measures in the Budget.

"Given what lies ahead on energy prices, and the huge increases in other inputs, the farming sector will need support to keep its head above water.

"We have held meetings with Ministers Donohoe, McGrath and McConalogue to emphasise the very serious pressures that exist," he said.