The preliminary results of the June 2007 Agricultural Census

6th September 2007
DARD

The preliminary results of the June 2007 Agricultural Census have been released by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

These are compiled from a sample survey of all active farms augmented by administrative data. The preliminary results are based on the first 9,000 returns and, whilst they should give an indication of the main trends, are liable to be amended in the light of returns received and processed later. Final results will be published in November 2007 by which time all returns from farmers will have been processed.

The main changes between June 2006 and June 2007 are:

Cereals:

There was no change in the total area of cereals. The areas of oats and wheat increased by 3% and 2% respectively. The area of winter barley rose by 1% while the area of spring barley fell by 1%.

Other crops:

The area of potatoes was 4% higher than in 2006; that of forage maize was also 4% higher. Arable silage was 6% lower.

Cattle:

Total cattle numbers were 2% lower than in 2006, though the number of dairy cows and dairy heifers in calf with first calf both rose by 2%.

Sheep:

There was a 4% reduction in the number of breeding ewes.

Pigs:

There was a 2% decrease in the breeding sow herd compared with June 2006, with a fall of 1% in the number of pigs being fattened.

Poultry:

Numbers of laying hens were 23% higher and the number of broilers increased by 14%.

Farmers and workers:

There was a 3% fall in the number of farmers in 2007, and the total number of persons working on farms fell by 1%.

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