Holdings, agricultural area and livestock, 2008, preliminary figures

The total agricultural area in use was 10.24 million decares in 2008. The area of meadows for mowing and pastureland covered 6.6 million decares in 2008, and the total grain area amounted to 3.1 million decares. Barley comprised 41 per cent of the total grain area, while wheat and oats covered 30 and 25 per cent respectively.

In 2008, 45 700 holdings were operated by natural persons, while 3200 were operated by various legal persons, e.g. joint operations, limited companies and institutions. Since 1999 the number of holdings being operated by a legal person raised from 1.1 per cent to 6.5 per cent of all holdings.

39 200 of the personal holders were males and 6 500 female ones. From 1999 to 2008 the average age of holders increased from 48 to 50 years of age. The average age of female holders was 48 years, as compared to 50 of male holders.

Fewer holdings with dairy cow

From 2007 to 2008, the number of holdings with dairy cow dropped by 8 per cent to 12 500. The number of dairy cows fell by 2 per cent to a total of 248 000. Since 1999, the number of dairy cows has been reduced by 20 per cent. In the same period, the number of beef cows has increased by 26 400 to 63 200, an increase of 72 per cent. The average herd has increased from 13.8 dairy cows and 6.7 beef cows in 1999 to 19.8 dairy cows and 12.0 beef cows in 2008.

The number of breeding pigs increased by 400 to 99 600 from 2007 to 2008. In the period 1999-2008, the number of breeding pigs has been about 100 000 each year, while the number of holdings with breeding pigs has dropped from 3 700 in 1999 to 1 700 in 2008. Average size of herds with pigs for breeding has increased from 27.2 to 60.2 in the same period.

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, 1999-2008*. Decares
• Table 5 Agricultural area, by use. 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2006-2008*. Decares
• Table 6 Domestic animals. 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2006-2008*
• Table 7 Number of animals per holding keeping various kinds of animal, by county and size of holding