The final results of the June 2007 agricultural census have been released by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, providing estimates of crop areas, numbers of livestock and of farmers and workers on active farm businesses on the census date of 1 June 2007.

The main changes between June 2006 and June 2007 are:

*Farm businesses: The number of active farm businesses included in the June 2007 census, 26,146, was 593 fewer than in 2006. This is a net change, with some new businesses being created and others merging or ceasing to be active. The downward trend in the number of farms averages 2.0 per cent per year over both the past five years and the past ten years.

*Crops: There was a 2 per cent increase in the total area of Cereals between 2006 and 2007. The area of winter barley increased by 3 per cent while there was no change in the area of spring barley. The area of oats increased by 9 per cent, with wheat increasing by 5 per cent. There was no change in the area of Potatoes but there was a significant increase in the area of forage maize (18 per cent).

*Cattle: The total number of cattle on farms in June 2007 was 2 per cent lower than in 2006. The number of beef cows fell by 3 per cent but the total dairy cow numbers increased by 2 per cent. Cattle for rearing and fattening were down by 3%.

*Sheep: The number of ewes fell by 3 per cent when compared with June 2006 and there were 1 per cent fewer lambs.

*Pigs: Overall, in June 2007 there were 6 per cent more pigs on farms compared with June 2006. However, the breeding herd was down by 1 per cent.

*Poultry: Total poultry numbers decreased by 6 per cent since June 2006. This was due, in the main, to a 11 per cent decrease in the number of broilers. The breeding flock decreased by 4 per cent and the number of laying hens, rose by 9%.

*Farmers and workers: In 2007 there were 2 per cent fewer farmers and business partners, reflecting the change in the number of farms.

The total labour force was down by 2 per cent.

*Further information from the Agricultural and Horticultural Census is available on the Statistics section of the DARD website where spreadsheets show crop areas, numbers of livestock, farmers and workers and farms for the past 20 years.

A new spreadsheet has been added showing the historic trend in the numbers of farms with each of the main enterprises, such as dairy cows or pigs, and the average enterprise size.