Results from the June Agricultural Census 2024

The statistics provide estimates of crop areas and numbers of livestock on active farm businesses on the survey date of 1 June 2024.

The statistics are compiled from a survey of farm businesses augmented by administrative data (source from the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS), cattle tracing system). Data collection for the Farm Census has moved entirely online since 2020. In 2024 a large response was achieved from the online-only collection and focused telephone follow-up. This has enabled detailed farm census statistics to be produced.

The main changes between June 2023 and June 2024 are:

Farms: In June 2024 there were 26,190 farms in Northern Ireland and the total area farmed (excluding common land) was approximately one million hectares (1,040,392 hectares), similar to 26,131 farms and 1,042,318 hectares in 2023.

Cattle: Total cattle numbers have remained stable at 1,673,236. The number of dairy cows increased by 2% to 325,325, while the number of beef cows decreased by 4% to 226,000.

Sheep: There was a decrease of 4% in breeding ewes compared to 2023, with numbers falling to 930,447. Overall, the total number of sheep recorded was 1,969,023, which was a 4% fall from June 2023.

Pigs: Total pig numbers recorded in June 2024 increased by 1% to 692,091 compared to June 2023.

Poultry: Total poultry numbers on farms at June 2024 decreased by 8% from 2023 levels with 23.7 million birds recorded. Total number of laying birds saw an increase of 4% whilst broiler numbers decreased by 14% and other poultry decreased by 21% compared to June 2023.

Crops: The total area of crops grown in Northern Ireland in 2024 was approximately 46,795 hectares, a decrease of 2% from 2023. The total area of cereals (30,342 hectares) grown in 2024 decreased by 5% from 2023. Wheat crops decreased by 3% to 8,029 hectares, Winter Barley decreased by 18% and Spring Barley increased by 4%, while Oats decreased by 7% from 2023, at 1,788 hectares.