This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Provisional results from Agricultural Census
10/09/2003
The Executive today issued provisional results
from the June 2003 Agriculture Census. These
provisional results indicate that, compared with June
2002:-
* There has been little overall change in the
number of cattle and in the number of sheep.
* The total number of pigs has fallen by seven
per cent, from five hundred and twenty six thousand to
four hundred and eighty nine thousand.
* The total poultry flock fell by five per cent
to around 15 million.
* There was little change in the area of barley
(down one per cent), but the area of wheat fell by ten
per cent. The area of oilseed rape rose by sixteen per
cent.
* The total number of regular staff employed fell
by three per cent but casual and seasonal staff levels
rose slightly.
The results relate to the annual June Census of
agricultural holdings.Census returns are completed by farmers; these
results are provisional for a number of reasons which
include late returns and outstanding queries not yet
resolved etc. The returns provide information on the crops
and livestock on the land which is owned or rented on a
permanent basis by farmers.
These results cover June 2003 returns for main
holdings - i.e. holdingsabove a certain economic or physical threshold. For
the remaining holdings (minor holdings) an estimate is
included based on the June 2002 Census and previous
Censuses. A complete analysis of returns for minor holdings
is conducted after the final analysis of the returns from
the main holdings in October. Final results of the June
2002 Census are due to be published on October
15.