Farm Structures Survey

The CSO is conducting a Farm Structures Survey (FSS) in June this year. Apart from the Census of Agriculture, this is the largest regular survey of farming in Ireland. The survey will cover a representative sample of about 85,000 farms.

Questionnaires are being sent out to the selected farms at present. Farmers are asked to complete the questionnaire to show their situation on June 1st and to return it to the CSO in the postage–paid envelope by June 10th.

The data supplied by farmers will be treated by the CSO as strictly confidential. The returns will be used only in the compilation of aggregate statistics. Under no circumstances will any individual returns be used for any other purpose or made available to any Government Department, Office or Agency. Confidentiality is guaranteed by law.

The FSS takes place every 2 to 3 years. It provides a wide range of statistics on farming in Ireland. In addition to the regular annual statistics on crops and livestock, the FSS also provides more information on the pattern of farming. It includes questions on the farm workforce, use of farm machinery and – for the first time this year – some questions on the environment.

The FSS will update a wide range of facts and figures about Irish farming, including the following:

• There were 141,527 active farms in June 2000, compared to 170,578 in 1991. The average size of farm increased from 26.0 hectares in 1991 to 31.4 hectares in 2000.
• In 2000 62,709 farms were less than 20 hectares in area. 54,672 were between 20 and 50 hectares and 24,146 were 50 hectares or larger.
• There were 257,948 family and regular non-family workers engaged in farming in 2000 - a drop of 17.5% on the 1991 figure of 312,729.
• In 1991, 45.1% of farmers were aged 55 or over; this age category represented 39.5% of farmers in 2000.
• In 1991, almost three-quarters of farmers described farmwork as their sole occupation; this had fallen to 55.7% in 2000.
• The total number of cattle in June 2000 was 7.037 million
• The average size of dairy herds increased from 27.1 dairy cows in 1991 to 37.0 in 2000. Specialist dairy farms had an average area of 42.8 hectares in 2000.
• There were 7.555 million sheep in June 2000, which was 15% below the 1991 figure of 8.888 million.

The results of the survey will be important for everyone concerned with planning the future of farming in Ireland. The survey has the support of the IFA, ICMSA, and Macra na Feirme – who all wish to encourage a full response to the survey.

Further information about the Farm Structures Survey and about CSO agricultural statistics can be obtained from:

Carol Duffy
Agriculture Division
CSO
Skehard Road
Cork

Tel 021-453 5327

Email: agri@cso.ie

May 2003