The results from the June 2024 Agricultural Census in Northern Ireland have been released, providing insights into crop areas and livestock numbers as of 1 June 2024. These statistics are derived from a survey of farm businesses, supplemented by administrative data from the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS) and the cattle tracing system. The data collection process for the Farm Census transitioned entirely online in 2020, with a high response rate achieved through this method and targeted follow-up via telephone.
The main findings between June 2023 and June 2024 are as follows:
Farms: In June 2024, Northern Ireland had 26,190 active farms, with a total area of approximately 1,040,392 hectares being farmed, a slight decrease from 1,042,318 hectares in 2023. The number of farms remained relatively stable, with only a minor change from the previous year.
Cattle: The total cattle population in Northern Ireland remained stable at 1,673,236. However, there was a slight increase in the number of dairy cows, which rose by 2% to 325,325. In contrast, the number of beef cows decreased by 4%, falling to 226,000.
Sheep: The sheep population saw a decrease of 4% compared to 2023, with the total number of sheep recorded at 1,969,023. The number of breeding ewes also fell by 4%, dropping to 930,447.
Pigs: The total number of pigs in Northern Ireland increased by 1%, reaching 692,091, compared to June 2023.
Poultry: The poultry population experienced an 8% decrease in 2024, with a total of 23.7 million birds recorded. The number of laying birds increased by 4%, while the number of broilers decreased by 14%, and other types of poultry saw a decline of 21%.
Crops: The area dedicated to crops in Northern Ireland decreased by 2% in 2024, totaling approximately 46,795 hectares. The area planted with cereals decreased by 5%, with wheat crops falling by 3% to 8,029 hectares. Winter barley saw a significant decline of 18%, while spring barley increased by 4%. Oats also experienced a 7% decrease, with 1,788 hectares recorded.
These statistics reflect the ongoing trends in Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector, with some fluctuations in livestock numbers and crop areas. The census data provides an important snapshot of the state of farming in the region and helps inform policy decisions related to agriculture and rural affairs.
Key changes in the data collection methodology were introduced in 2020, including the transition to online-only data collection and the simplification of some questions to streamline the process for farmers. Data on pigs and poultry was gathered from the Northern Ireland Annual Inventory of Pigs and the update of the Northern Ireland Bird Register, while cattle data was extracted from the NIFAIS cattle tracing system. For farms that did not respond, estimation and imputation methods were applied to create the final statistics.
The results are based on 16,358 completed questionnaires, with additional data from the NIFAIS, the Northern Ireland Bird Register, and the Northern Ireland Annual Inventory of Pigs. This methodology ensures that the statistics provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of agricultural activity in Northern Ireland.
