Final results of June 2009 Agricultural Census

The final results of the June 2009 Agricultural Census were released today by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The statistics provide estimates of crop areas, numbers of livestock and of farmers and workers on active farm businesses on the census date of 1 June 2009.

The main changes between June 2008 and June 2009 are:

• Cereals: There was a 3% decrease in the total area of cereals compared with 2008. The total area of winter crops planted in autumn 2008 for harvest in 2009 was 15,500 ha, while the total of spring cereal crops was 23,600 ha. The areas of winter wheat and winter barley decreased by 16% and 17% respectively. The area of spring barley rose by 11%.
• Other crops: There was no change in the area of potatoes grown in 2009 compared to 2008, at 5,100ha; while the area of forage maize was 6% lower at 3,300 ha.
• Cattle: Total cattle numbers were 1% lower than in 2008 at 1.6 million head. The number of dairy cows decreased by 2%, to 284,700; while the number of beef cows fell by 3% to 256,800.
• Sheep: The number of breeding ewes fell by 5% to 892,400.
• Pigs: The number of breeding sows rose by 8% to 38,200.
• Poultry: Overall, there was little change in poultry numbers between 2008 and 2009 with a small 2% decrease in the total number of birds.
• Farmers and workers: There was a 2% fall in the number of farmers in 2009, and the total number of persons working on farms also fell by 1%. On a headcount basis the total farm labour force stood at 48,000 in June 2009.

More details of the June Agricultural Census results are available on the DARD website.

Notes to editors:

1. The survey results were prepared by Farm Surveys Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB.

2. In an effort to reduce the compliance burden on farmers, the survey form sent to farmers omitted most of the cattle and all of the poultry questions. Survey information was then augmented with data from APHIS for missing cattle variables, and from the Northern Ireland Bird Register Update for poultry. The changes will improve the robustness of the statistics, but the new methodology means a break in the data series that started in 1996.

3. Full details of the coverage of the census and of terms used were given in the booklet “The Agricultural Census in Northern Ireland: Results for June 2007” (DARD, 2008) and will be repeated in the 2009 issue of this annual publication, available in January 2010. These booklets may be accessed on the Department’s internet site.

4. A spreadsheet with summary results of the census is available, in electronic format, for the period 1982 to 2008, from Policy and Economics Division, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB. This series is also available on the Department’s internet site. Special analyses can be undertaken on request but a charge will be made for this.

5. All media enquiries should be directed to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

6. All recent DARD statistical press releases can be found on the DARD website.

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