The final results for June 2018 show that the area under cereals decreased by 10,800 hectares (ha) (-4.0%) to 261,600 ha when compared to June 2017. This was mainly due to a decrease of 9,100 ha (-13.5%) in the area under wheat, a decrease of 7,200 ha (-11.0%) in the area under winter barley and a decrease of 6,700 ha (-27.3%) in the area under oats. The area under spring barley increased by 12,200 ha (+10.6%). See Table 1.

The results also show that the total number of sheep was 5,109,300, a drop of 87,800 (-1.7%) on June 2017. The number of non-breeding sheep was down 2.3% and breeding sheep down 1.1%. See Table 2.

A comparison with the June 2017 results show that:

• Cattle numbers decreased by 15,000 (-0.2%) to 7,348,500. The number of dairy cows was up by 48,200 (+3.4%), while other cows dropped by 33,100 (-3.1%). See Table 2.

• Pig numbers increased by 65,100 (+4.2%) to 1,621,900. Non-breeding pigs were up 4.3% and breeding pigs up by 2.7%. See Table 2.

• The area under potatoes decreased by 10.4% to 8,200 ha. See Table 1.
  

A regional analysis of the livestock numbers shows that the largest number of cattle (1,467,200) was in the South-West region, the largest number of sheep (1,412,300) was in the West region and the largest number of pigs (446,200) was in the Border region. See Tables 4 and 5.

From the 1st January 2018 an Amendment of the EU NUTS legislation came into effect. This reflects the new regional assembly structure and other changes to the Local Government Act for Tipperary North, Tipperary South and Limerick and Waterford City and Councils. For the composition of the new Regions breakdown and further information see background notes.