The scientific approaches of the researchers to determination of the essence of economic efficiency in general and in agricultural production in particular, have been considered. A comparative analysis of such concepts as "criterion" and "indicator" in agricultural production was carried out. The main approaches to determining the performance criteria of agricultural information and consulting service have been identified. Based on the experience of the activities of foreign ICS, main factors which have most influence on the effectiveness of information and con- sulting support of agricultural production that can serve as a basis for the effective functioning of information and consulting services that affect agricultural production development have been identified. The main directions of their economic efficiency have been determined. The consumers who are interested in the results of the ICS activity have been identified and grouped, and main indicators characterizing social and economic efficiency from the position of the interested circle of persons and organizations have been determined. In this paper, in particular, the definitions of the influence of information and consulting activities on agricultural production are of interest. The example on obtaining the annual effect of consulting work has been presented, while the effectiveness of each individual object of consultation has been identified. Methodology of calculating the effect of introduction of new technology based on the example of crop production has been proposed.