Northern Ireland June Survey Results December 4, 2013 12:00 am The results from the June survey for Northern Ireland have been published by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). The statistics provide estimates of crop areas, livestock numbers and farm workers as at 1st June 2013. The main changes are detailed in the table below. Agricultural June Census 2013 : Northern Ireland ‘000 hectares 2012 2013 Change Wheat 9.4 8.0 -15% Winter Barley 5.3 5.3 -1% Spring Barley 20.2 20.5 +1% Oats 1.5 2.0 +5% Total Cereals 37.1 35.9 -3% Forage Maize 1.9 1.6 -19% Potatoes 4.2 4.3 +4% Total Arable Land 53.0 51.6 -3% ‘000 head 2012 2013 Change Total Dairy herd 285.4 279.5 -2% Total Beef herd 279.2 270.1 -3% Total Cattle 1,625.4 1,587.8 -2% Total Sheep & Lambs 1968.9 1903.5 -3% Total Poultry 19,188.2 19,373.8 +1% Source: Dardni /The Andersons Centre The area of winter crops was 15,300 Ha, an 8% fall compared to 2012, the decreased area was largely due to the poor weather conditions at drilling. Total cattle numbers were down 2%, sheep numbers were down by 3%. Increased pressure on output prices, higher input costs and bad weather have affected these sectors. There was an estimated 1% increase in overall farm workers to 47,800, most of the increase was seen in part-time and unpaid labour reflecting the difficulties in the general labour market and family members unable to get work off the farm.
