The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has announced that the 2020 census of agriculture will be collected in September.

The farm census had been due to take place in June, but was postponed due to the initial disruption caused by COVID-19.

Approximately 140,000 farms will receive the questionnaire by post in the first week of September.

The four-page form will ask about the farm situation on 1 September, with questions about land use, livestock and farm management.

The census of agriculture is collected once every 10 years to provide benchmark statistics on the number of farms in Ireland and the structure in terms of farm enterprise. This is part of an EU-wide programme of farm censuses being conducted this year.

Simplified survey

CSO statistician Cathal Doherty said: “During the COVID-19 lockdown, we worked on simplifying the information we are requesting from farmers. We hope that these changes reduce the burden and make it easier for farmers to answer the census.

“With fewer questions in the form being sent to all farms, the CSO will also conduct a sample survey at the end of 2020, on farm labour, animal housing and manure management.”

The survey form has now been reduced from eight to four pages. As well as a paper questionnaire, there will also be an online response option.

An example of the census form can be found by clicking here.

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