Archive:Agricultural census in Ireland
- Data from November 2012. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.
This article is part of a series of country-specific essays on the results of the European Union (EU) Farm structure survey (FSS) 2010. The FSS collects information on the structural characteristics of the agricultural holdings (land use, livestock and labour force) and is carried out by all European Union Member States every 10 years as an Agricultural census, with two or three additional, intermediate sample surveys carried out in-between.
The present analysis of the farm structure includes a comparison with the Agricultural census 2000. In contrast with the FSS 2010, the Agricultural census 2000 in Ireland did not include information on common land. As a result, in order to allow comparison between the two reference years, 2010 data presented throughout this article do not include information on common land when the analysis refers to the two waves of the survey. On the contrary, data on common land are taken into account when the analysis concerns only the most recent data set.
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa) (demo_pjan) and FSS 2003 and 2010
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa) and FSS 2000 and 2010
_by_UAA_size_classes_IE_2010.PNG)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvftreg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_mptenure)
Source: Source: Eurostat (ef_pmhouscatlaa)
Main statistical findings
Key indicators
As exhibited in Table 1, there were about 140 000 agricultural holdings in Ireland in 2010. The Irish population of farms proved to be quite stable, as it only decreased by 1.2 % over the inter-census decade (- 1 670). In 2010, among the EU Member States, Austria (150 170) and Latvia (83 390) recorded values similar to the one recorded in Ireland.
The Irish utilised agricultural area (UAA) remained quite stable over the years under analysis; it only increased by 2.8 %, indicating the value of about 4.6 million in 2010 – in 2000, the corresponding value was 4.4 million hectares. The Irish ratio between the agricultural land and the total area of the country proved to be the highest within the EU-27: the UUA in Ireland was found to cover 65.5 % of the whole territory in 2010.
With the number of holdings slightly decreasing and the figures for the agricultural land rising, the average size of the holdings increased, from 31.4 ha per farm in 2000 to 32.7 ha in 2010.
In contrast to the decreasing employment in agriculture observed in many EU Member States, the number of persons regularly working on the farms in Ireland slightly increased over the decade under analysis (+ 5.5 %), from 257 950 to 272 020. Accordingly, the agricultural labour force represented 12.8 % of the active population [1] (lfsq_pganws)]</ref> in 2010, which was found to be one of the highest shares recorded within the EU-27.
According to the FSS 2010, there were 5.8 million livestock units (LSU) in Ireland – the corresponding value was 6.4 million LSU in 2000 (- 10.2 %). Among the EU Member States, the Netherlands (6.7 million LSU) and Romania (5.4 million LSU) recorded similar values.
Regional key indicators
The regional analysis presented in Table 2 shows a very similar distribution of resources among the following two regions of the country: “Border, Midland and Western” and “Southern and Eastern”. While the territory of “Border, Midland and Western” accounted for a slightly higher share of holdings (53 %), the “Southern and Eastern” region recorded a wider agricultural area (2.6 million ha) and accounted for 56 % of the Irish UAA in 2010.
Also the agricultural labour force proved to be evenly distributed among the territories: 51 % of the persons regularly working on the farm were recorded in “Border, Midland and Western” and 49 % within the “Southern and Eastern” territory.
As regards livestock, the “Southern and Eastern” region was found to account for a bigger share of the population of farm animals (60 %) than the territory of “Border, Midland and Western” (40 %).
Agricultural holdings
In Ireland, holdings with 10 to 19.9 hectares of agricultural area were found to be the most common ones (see Figure 1). In 2010, they represented about one fourth of the whole population of farms and indicated the value of 33 580. The second most common type of farms were those with 30 to 49.9 hectares of agricultural area (22 %), as 30 670 of them were registered within the Irish territory. Accordingly, the two aforementioned classes of farms together accounted for 46 % of the Irish holdings population, and were found to cover 34 % of the whole agricultural area. In particular, farms with 10 to 19.9 hectares of agricultural area shared 10 % of UAA, whereas holdings with 30 to 49.9 hectares of agricultural area contributed to 24 % of the country’s UAA.
The number of holdings with no land was found to be marginal (130). Moreover, farms with less than 5 hectares of agricultural land (9 720) accounted for a marginal 1 % of the Irish agricultural area and represented 7 % of the country’s population of farms. On the contrary, farms with 50 to 99.9 hectares of agricultural area (20 760) accounted for 15 % of the Irish population of holdings and were found to cover 28 % of the country’s UAA (1 389 390 ha).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2000
Economic size of the farm
As exhibited in Table 3, the economic size of the Irish farms was EUR 4 279 million in 2010. This value, which is calculated by adding all the standard output (SO) per hectare of crop and per head of livestock of the farms, indicated a 6 % decrease compared to the 2007 figure (EUR 4 570 million). Compared to the FSS 2007, farms with less than EUR 15 000 of SO increased their values: in particular, holdings with less than EUR 2 000 of standard output recorded the highest increase (74 %). A remarkable rise was also observed for farms with an economic size of EUR 250 000 to 499 999 SO (+ 46 %). On the contrary, holdings with an economic size of EUR 500 000 or more recorded the biggest decrease (- 24 %).
In terms of the standard output of the farm, resources appeared to be distributed unevenly within the Irish territory. The “Southern and Eastern” region was found to play a major role, as it accounted for 65 % of the country’s SO; the territory of “Border, Midland and Western” shared the remaining 35 %.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2007
Agricultural holding by main type of farming
If the number of holdings and the main type of farming are taken into account, Irish agriculture appears to be mainly focused on cattle-rearing and fattening. In 2010, farms specialised in this activity represented 55.6 % of the whole population of holdings. Furthermore, agricultural holdings dedicated to sheep, goats and other grazing livestock accounted for 18.4 %; farms specialised in dairying recorded the only other double digits share (11.2 %).
As exhibited in Figure 3, the ranking looks different in terms of the economic size. Indeed, agricultural holdings specialised in dairying appeared to be the most important (40.5 %) in 2010. Moreover, agricultural holdings dedicated to cattle-rearing and fattening shared 23.5 %, whereas those specialised in sheep, goats and other grazing livestock accounted for 7.9 %.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010
Land use
The Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) is the total area used by the farm, regardless of the type of tenure or whether it is used as a part of common land. Generally, it is made of four major components: arable land, permanent grassland and meadow, permanent crops and kitchen gardens. In Ireland, UAA is essentially taken up by arable land and permanent grass land and meadows.
As exhibited in Table 4, arable land accounted for 22.1 % of the total agricultural area, while permanent grassland and meadow shared 77.8 % in 2010. Arable land in Ireland actually decreased over the inter-census decade (-8.8 %); on the contrary, the area of permanent grassland and meadow grew (+6.7 %), from 3.3 million hectares to 3.5 million ha.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2000
Arable land
In 2010, Irish arable land was essentially taken up by fodder crops (15 %) and cereals (6 %) – it indicated the value of 1 million hectare. Compared to the FSS 2000, arable land lost about 100 000 hectares (8.8 %), fodder crops decreased by 8.2 % (- 61 530 ha), while the share of cereals dropped by 1.8 % (-5 140 ha).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2000
Permanent grassland
In Ireland, the area of permanent grassland is of great importance and represents by far the main component of the UAA. In 2010 it covered 77.8 % of the agricultural area of the country (3.5 million ha), whereas in 2000 it took up 3.3 million hectares and accounted for 75 % of the country’s agricultural land. Irish permanent grassland comprises pasture and meadow, which in 2010 indicated the value of 3.1 million hectares and accounted for 68.2 % of the country’s UAA: an increase of +290 890 hectares compared to 2000 (+10.3 %).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2000
Livestock
Statistics on livestock use two different units of measurement: the number of heads (number of animals) and the livestock unit (LSU) – the latter allows comparison between different types of livestock.
According to the Agricultural Census 2010, there were about 5.8 million LSU in Ireland, a value which was found to be smaller (- 10 %) than the one recorded in 2000 (6.4 million LSU). Within the EU-27, the Netherlands (6.7 millions LSU) and Romania (5.4 million LSU) recorded similar values. In relative terms, there were 1.3 LSU per inhabitant in 2010. On the contrary, a higher value was recorded in 2000 (1.7): the Irish population increased (18.3%) while the livestock decreased (-10.2 %) over the inter census period.
In Ireland, the cattle were by far the most important livestock: they represented 82 % of the Irish farm animals’ population and indicated the value of 4.7 million LSU in 2010. Compared to 2000, the cattle population decreased by about 400 000 LSU (-7.8 %). Accounting for 8.8 % of the Irish livestock (474 540 LSU), sheep was the second most important type of farm animal – over the period under analysis it actually decreased by 31.1 % (- 214 610 LSU). Pigs also recorded a remarkable share (6.6 %) in 2010, although their number was found to have decreased (-7.1 %) compared to the FSS 2000.
As observed in most of the EU Member States, also in Ireland the decrease in the number of holdings with livestock (- 6.2 %) was sharper than the fall in the number of farms (- 1.2 %). As a result, within the 2000-2010 decade, the importance of the number of holdings with livestock over the total population of farms decreased, from 96 % to 91 %. Although this value still represented one of the highest shares recorded within the EU-27, figures decreased for farms with 10 or more LSU.
In terms of territories, “Southern and Eastern” Ireland recorded the highest number of livestock (3.4 million LSU) and accounted for about 60 % of the entire population of animal farms in 2010 – the same share as in 2000. The remaining 40 %, corresponding to 2.3 million LSU, was registered within the territory of “Border, Midland and Western”.
See detailed data at Nuts 2 level for 2010 and 2000
Labour force
In Ireland, 272 020 people were regularly working on farms in 2010. In contrast with the tendency observed in many EU Member States, this value represented an increase (+5.5 %) compared to 2000, when 257 950 people were employed in the agricultural sector. If the annual work unit (AWU) is taken into account, the agricultural labour force appeared stable as its figure moved from 163 900 AWU in 2000 to 162 350 AWU in 2010 (- 1 %).
As already mentioned, the agricultural labour force proved to be evenly distributed over the Irish territory. The region of “Border, Midland and Western” accounted for 51 % of regular farm employees – the corresponding value in 2000 was 50.3 % – whereas “Southern and Eastern” Ireland accounted for 49.1 % (it shared 49.7 % in 2000).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level on holders' age and gender for 2010 and 2000
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level on type of labour force for 2010 and 2000
Management practices
Type of tenure
In 2010, three fourths of the Irish agricultural area (3.8 million ha) were farmed by the people who actually owned that land: “Southern and eastern” Ireland recorded a value higher than the national average (77.3 %), whereas “Border, Midland and Western” accounted for 74.1%.
On the other hand, 784 380 hectares of UAA (15.7 %) were farmed by tenants (see Table 7). In particular, Southern and eastern” Ireland recorded the highest value in this respect (17.3 %), while “Border, Midland and Western” accounted for 13.8 %.
In Ireland, the agricultural area utilised in partnership by the landlord and the sharecropper under a written or oral share-farming contract – or the area utilised under other modes of tenure – covered the remaining 8.5 % (422 410 ha).
Animal housing
According to the FSS 2010, there were 111 000 holdings farming 6.6 millions heads of cattle in Ireland. Accordingly, Ireland proved to have one of the highest populations of farms with cattle within the EU-27.
As exhibited in Table 9, if the number of holdings is taken into account, the most common type of animal housing proved to be the one where animals are loose with solid dung and manure (45 320). In terms of the number of places, the most common type of animal housing was found to be the one where cattle are hosted loosely with slurry (2.1 million).
Other gainful activities
In Ireland, there were 12 880 farms with extra source of income in 2010, a value which accounted for 9.2 % of the total population of holdings and proved to be among the highest within EU-27.
Information on other gainful activities was collected by eleven category types depending on their characteristics – one holding could register more than one activity. Forestry work (5 110 farms) was found to be the most common activity other than farm work, directly related to the holding and having an economic impact on the holding, followed by contractual work (3 480 holdings) – which could take the form of contractual agricultural work (2 580 farms) and contractual non-agricultural work (1 130 farms). Also tourism proved to be quite relevant for the Irish farms as 1 600 holdings recorded it as other gainful activity.
In 2010, the “Southern and Eastern” territory recorded the highest number of holdings with other gainful activities (58 %), whereas the territory of “Border, Midland and Western” accounted for 42 % (5 430 holdings).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2000
Organic farming
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and on the management practices that restore, maintain or enhance ecological harmony.
In Ireland, the UAA under organic farming increased over the decade under analysis and indicated the value of 24 850 hectares in 2010 (see table 10). Nevertheless, it only covered 0.5 % of the Irish agricultural area in 2010.
See detailed data at Nuts 2 level for 2010, 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2000
Data sources and availability
Methodological notes
In Ireland, the Farm Structure Survey 2010 was carried out as a census and in accordance with the EU Regulation 1166/2008. The first Irish Agricultural Census was conducted in 1847; since 1980 the census has been carried out every ten years – the responsible body is the Agricultural Division of the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Survey on agricultural production methods (SAPM)
In 2010 a unique survey was carried out together with the Agricultural census, the Survey on agricultural productions methods (SAPM). This survey collected data at regional level needed to establish agri-environmental indicators as indicated in COM final 508/2006 final and to evaluate the greening of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Data were collected according to the specifications listed in Annex V of the above mentioned regulation, namely data on tillage methods, soil conservation, landscape features, animal grazing, animal housing, manure application, manure storage and treatment facilities and irrigation.
In Ireland, the SAPM was conducted as sample survey: a stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 40 000 units.
Reference period
Information on the structure of the Irish agriculture was collected as of the 1st of June 2010. However, data on the labour force refer to the twelve months prior to this reference date. Data on rural development were collected as of the 1st of January 2008 – 31st of December 2010 timeframe.
Threshold for agricultural holdings
In Ireland, all agricultural holdings were surveyed, irrespective of their size. Indeed, excluding holdings with less than one hectare of agricultural area, as per Article 3 of Regulation 1166/2008, would have significantly reduced the accuracy of the results for some of the characteristics which are more common on very small farms.
Common land
Common land is the land that does not directly belong to any agricultural holding but on which common rights apply. It can consist of pasture, horticultural or other land. The treatment of the common land used by an agricultural holding might differ from country to country.
In Ireland, information on the area of common land was estimated for the first time within the context of the FSS 2007 (421 041 ha), though data on UAA prior to 2010 always excluded figures on this characteristic. In 2010, a new estimate based on the same methodology was provided to Eurostat and the information on common land was published. Accordingly, there were 422 415 hectares of common land in 2010; in addition, 13 578 holdings were found to make use of this common agricultural area, which represented about 8 % of the whole UAA of the country.
Geo-reference of the holding
The geo-coordinates of the largest parcel of land of the holdings were employed to locate the farms: for holdings without land, the administrative headquarters were used as reference.
Economic size
From FSS 2007 onwards, the Standard output (SO), a new classification of the economic size of the holding, is used. The SO has replaced the Standard gross margin (SGM) used before. Nonetheless, for comparability reasons, in FSS 2007 both classifications are available.
Other methodological issues
Contrary to the FSS 2010, the Agricultural census 2000 did not include information on the Irish common land. In order to allow comparison between the two reference years, 2010 data presented throughout this article do not include information on common land when data on the two waves of the FSS are compared. Nevertheless, figures on common land are included when the analysis takes into account only the most recent data.
Context
European Commission Rural development policy aims to improve competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, the environment and the countryside as well as the quality of life in rural areas, and to encourage the diversification of rural economies.
As agriculture has modernised and the importance of industry and services within the economy has increased, so agriculture has become much less important as a source of jobs. Consequently, increasing emphasis is placed on the role farmers can play in rural development, including forestry, biodiversity and the diversification of the rural economy, in order to create alternative jobs and provide environmental protection in rural areas.
The FSS continues to adapt in order to provide timely and relevant data to help analyse and follow these developments.
Further Eurostat information
Publications
- Agriculture, fishery and forestry statistics — Main results – 2010-11 - 2012 edition
- Farm Structure Survey in Ireland - 2007 - Issue number 20/2009
- Farm Structure in Ireland - 2005 - Issue number 6/2007
- Structure of Agricultural Holdings - Ireland 2003 - Statistics in focus 36/2004
Main tables
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (t_ef)
Database
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ef)
Dedicated section
Methodology / Metadata
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ESMS metadata file - ef_esms)
- Methodological Report – FSS 2010 Ireland
- Methodological Report – FSS 2007 Ireland
Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)
Other information
- Regulation 1166/2008 of 19 November 2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods and repealing Council Regulation 571/88
- Regulation 1200/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation 1166/2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods, as regards livestock unit coefficients and definitions of the characteristics
See also
- census 2010 Agricultural census 2010
- structure All farm structure articles by country (2007)
- structure statistics Farm structure statistics
External links
Notes
- ↑ A value calculated over the total number of active people aged 15 to 64, as it is reported by the 4th quarter 2010 of the EU Labour force survey (LFS) Population by sex, age, nationality and labour status (1 000) ().