Holdings, agricultural area and livestock, 2006, preliminary figures

The total agricultural area in use was 10.24 million decares in 2006. The agricultural area was operated by a total of 51 200 holdings.

In 2006, 48 400 holdings were operated by natural persons, while 2 500 were operated by various legal persons, e.g. joint operations, limited companies and institutions.

Fewer farms with dairy cows

Holdings can be classified by type of farming and economic size. From 2005 to 2006, the number of farms with cattle-dairy as main production dropped by 7 per cent. The number of farms with grain and oil seed, and farms with sheep as main production, was reduced by 4 per cent respectively.These three productions are the dominating types of farming in Norwegian agriculture. One quarter of the farms were classified as holdings with cattle - dairying as main type of farming in 2006. 18 per cent of the farms were classified with grain and oil seed as main production, and 18 per cent with sheep.

Tables:

• Table 1 Total number of holdings and holdings by type of holder
• Table 2 Personal holders by age. Per cent. Average age
• Table 3 Holdings by size of agricultural area in use and county
• Table 4 Agricultural area per holding, by county. 1979, 1989, 1999-2006*. Decares
• Table 5 Number of animals per holding keeping various kinds of animal, by county and size of holding
• Table 6 Holdings by type of farming. 2000-2006*
• Table 7 Number of agricultural holdings. 1990-2005