Results of the survey were based on 10,000 results with the full findings of the survey to be released in November.

The main changes compared to 2017 showed that the area of maize and arable crop silage grown had increased by 11% up to 4,000ha and 1,500ha respectively.

This is the first notable difference in the volume of maize grown in ten years according to the DAERA.

Cereal production has decreased by 3% with over with the area of potatoes grown decreasing by 9%.

Livestock

All cattle numbers decreasing by 2%. According to the department, the decreases in cow numbers are due to increased culling across farms during the fodder crisis in the winter of 2017. Sheep numbers saw a 1% decrease in breeding ewes compared to June 2017.

This halts an increase in ewe numbers over the past three years.

Overall, pigs saw a decrease in numbers despite the sow population increasing. The number of fattening pigs fell by 2% and this has the biggest over all bearing on pig numbers.

Poultry broke the decreasing trend as laying birds recorded an increase of 5% compared to June 2017.

Broilers increased by 2%. The increase in poultry has been building since 2013 with ongoing expansions and new breeders entering the industry.

Good maize crops set for early harvest

Area of maize and arable silage rises 11% across Northern Ireland in 2018

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland have released the preliminary results of their 2018 agricultural census.