Holdings, agricultural area and livestock, 2007, preliminary figures

On average, the number of farms decreased by 2 800 each year from 1999 to 2006, corresponding to a percentage decrease of 3.9 per cent. From 2006 to 2007, the number of farms fell by 2.8 per cent.

The total agricultural area in use was 10.33 million decares in 2007. The agricultural area was operated by 49 800 holdings. The average size of farms increased from 202 decares in 2006 to 207.5 decares in 2007.

In 2007, 46 800 holdings were operated by natural persons, while 3 000 were operated by various legal persons, e.g. joint operations, limited companies and institutions.

Fewer farms with dairy production

Holdings can be classified by type of farming and economic size. From 2006 to 2007, the number of farms with dairy production as their main activity fell by 7 per cent. The number of farms with sheep or grain and oil seed as the main activity fell by 4 per cent. These three activities are the dominating types of farming in Norwegian agriculture. One quarter of the farms were classified as holdings with dairy production as the main activity in 2007, while grain and oil seed accounted for 18 per cent and sheep accounted for 17 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Total number of holdings and holdings by type of holder
• Table 2 Personal holders, by age. Average age. Per cent
• Table 3 Holdings by size of agricultural area in use and county
• Table 4 Agricultural area per holding, by county. 1979, 1989, 1999-2007*. 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. 2000-2007*
• Table 7 Agricultural area, by use. 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2006 and 2007*. Decares
• Table 8 Domestic animals. 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2006 and 2007*