The total area harvested for cereals in NI this year was lower than initially estimated, according to final results from DAERA’s June agricultural census.

In September, preliminary results indicated that the total area of cereals had fallen to 31,300ha, down 3% on 2017 and the lowest acreage planted since records began in 1847.

However, final survey results published last week confirm that the actual cereal acreage was 29,700ha, which is 8% lower than 2017 levels.

One factor in the change is the increased area of arable silage, which was 300ha more than previously estimated. Final results show that it stood at 4,300ha, which is up 18% year-on-year.

Forage maize was up 17% on 2017 levels to 1,600ha.

The poor autumn in 2017 was another factor, with winter barley down 18% to 5,800ha, wheat down 22% to 6,800ha and oats 11% lower than 2017 levels at 2,000ha.

However, spring barley was up by 6% to 14,900ha.

The area planted in potatoes was around 100 acres lower than preliminary results estimated and stood at 3,600ha, which is down 11% year-on-year.

The only change in livestock numbers between the preliminary and final results of the June 2018 census was with sheep. Breeding ewe numbers were 6,100 lower than initially estimated, bringing the total down 2% on 2017 levels to 956,500.

The final results also confirm that beef cow numbers decreased by 4% to 255,900 head, with dairy cows decreasing by 2% to 310,700 head.

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