In its 10-yearly census of agriculture up to 2020, the Central Statistics Office shows that around 278 000 people worked on 130 200 Irish farms of more than five hectares in size. That number of farms is down 9 660 since 2010, and 11 327 since 2000.
Even though the total number of farms fell between 2010 and 2020, there was a 46.4% increase in the dairy cow herd – 1.56 million dairy cows in 2020 making it the largest recorded in a census of agriculture. With a 15% decrease in other cows and an 8.8% increase in all other cattle, the final number showed an increase of 10.7% in cattle.
“The farm holders” total almost half that number of workers (130 200) with 114 300 family members, and 34 100 non-family workers – 73% of them were men. Farming was the sole occupation for 53% of farm holders but less than half (46%) had a succession plan in place.
The final census figures released on 26 May 2022 confirm that the standard output – “mean gross production” – per farm was EUR 48,380. Meanwhile, the standard output on farms above 100 hectares was EUR 276 891. What’s more, in 2020, specialist dairying systems had the second-highest standard output at EUR 209 006 behind other farm systems with EUR 338 416.
Organic farming occupied 73 800 hectares of the 4.5 million hectares of agricultural area utilised in the State. Livestock included 51 685 organic cattle, 74 870 organic sheep, and 161 471 organic poultry.