Raised numbers of family farms, dependent households and household
members by farm type
Active family farms
4,800
Farm Type
Cattle & Sheep
SDA
DA Lowland
8,790
5,770
4,100
Farm households
5,870
9,390
6,170
4,490
3,430
15,380
5,150
20,540
25,720
8,580
34,300
15,620
5,990
21,610
11,770
3,060
14,840
9,390
2,600
11,990
1,470
870
560
480
440
22,010
4.58
35,170
4.00
22,170
3.84
15,320
3.74
12,440
4.11
Dairy
Household members:
 Aged 16 or over
 Aged under 16
 Total
Other persons
supported by the farm
Total dependants
Dependants per farm
Others
3,020
Source: Farmers and Families in Northern Ireland, 2001/2002
The notes laid out below are those which accompany the original publications and contain
contact information which can be used to make enquiries regarding supplemenatry information
or extra analysis.
The original publication can be found at the following web link:
DARD: Statistics : Farmers and Families in Northern Ireland.
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Policy and Economics Division
Dundonal House
Upper Newtownards Road
BELFAST
BT4 3SB
Telephone: 028 90 524850
Fax: 028 90 524676
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Family farms
For the Social Survey a sample of family farms was drawn from the June 1999
Agricultural Census population.
In the agricultural statistics for Northern Ireland a farm is defined as:
a single unit, both technically and economically, which has a single management and
which produces agricultural products.
In this survey a family farm is defined as a farm which is not run by an institution or
a limited liability company.
Farm business size
Farm business size is determined by calculating each farm’s total Standard Gross
Margin (SGM). The gross margin of an enterprise is its total output less the variable
costs which are directly attributable to it. SGM coefficients representing standards or
norms have been calculated for all major enterprises. The total SGM for each farm is
calculated by multiplying its crop areas and livestock numbers by the appropriate
SGM coefficients and then summing the result for all enterprises on the farm.
To be able to determine year-to-year changes in business size, the enterprise SGM
coefficients are held constant for a number of years. The current series (introduced
in 1993) is based on the average prices during the period 1987-89. For a list of these
values, see ‘The Agricultural Census in Northern Ireland: Results for 2001’.
Because the system of classifying business size was developed for use within the EU
statistical network, SGMs are measured in euros. In agricultural statistics for
Northern Ireland, business size is generally described in terms of four SGM size
bands1. These are:
Term
1987-1989 SGM
(euro*)
<9,600
9,600-<48,000
48,000-<120,000
120,000 or more
Very small
Small
Medium
Large
* 1 euro = 1 ECU (was = £0.68 in 1987-1989).
European Size Units
(ESU)*
less than 8
8-<40
40-<100
100 or more
1 ESU=€1,200 of SGM
The distribution of farms in Northern Ireland is heavily skewed towards the lower end
of the size range. Over half the farms are classed as Very Small, with relatively few
Medium or Large businesses though farms of these latter sizes contribute over half
the total SGM2.
Farm business type
The EU system of classifying farms according to farm type (on which the UK system
is based) is set out in Commission Decision 85/377/EEC. Although 75 different types
are recognised by the EU, only 58 of these exist in Northern Ireland. For sampling
and raising purposes these were grouped into 19 key types, then further regrouped
into 5 main types for the purpose of this report. These are:
Type
Definition
1 A reassessment of the UK typology system currently being undertaken
will be informed by the results of this survey.
2 See Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2001, Chapter 4.
Dairy
farms with more than 2/3 of their total SGM in dairying (including
associated young stock).
Cattle &
sheep
(SDA)
farms wholly or mainly in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas which do
not qualify as dairy farms but have more than 2/3 of their total SGM in
cattle and sheep.
Cattle &
sheep
(DA)
farms wholly or mainly in the Disadvantaged Areas which do not
qualify as dairy farms but have more than 2/3 of their total SGM in
cattle and sheep.
Cattle &
sheep
(lowland)
farms entirely or mainly outside the Less Favoured Areas, which do
not qualify as dairy farms but have more than 2/3 their total SGM in
cattle and sheep.
All other
types
All other farms, including specialists in cereals, general cropping,
horticulture, mushrooms, pigs, poultry, or other livestock, and mixed
farms.
Less favoured areas (Figure A)
The term Less Favoured Areas (LFA) is used to describe those parts of the country
which, because of the relatively poor agricultural conditions which prevail there, have
been so designated under EU legislation. This recognition allows those who farm
there to apply for special support, such as the Less Favoured Areas Compensatory
Allowances Scheme.
The LFA is composed of a Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA), which is the
original LFA as designated in 1975 (487,000 hectares), and the Disadvantaged
Area (DA) which was designated following reviews in 1984 (335,000 hectares) and
1990 (3,700 hectares). (The areas designated include some non-agricultural land).
Fig. A Less Favoured Areas
NORTHERN IRELAND
Less Favoured Areas
Lowland
Disavantaged Area
Severely Disadvantaged Area
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map of Northern Ireland. Crown Copyright 2002.
Farm diversification
Farm diversification comprises any productive activity which uses the resources of
the farm, other than for mainstream farming. Interviewees were shown the following
list of farm diversification activities.
Contract field work
Contract milking
Contract sheep shearing
Contract hedge cutting
Livestock haulage
Other contract farm work
Bed & breakfast
Self-catering accommodation
Open farm
Caravan/ camping site
Sports facilities (not horses)
Other tourism facilities (not equestrian)
Horse breeding
Horse livery
Other equestrian facilities or services
Pick your own fruit or vegetables
Farm shop or stall
Market stall
Other direct sales of farm produce
Fruit or vegetable processing or packing
Other farm produce processing or packing
Mushrooms
Organic produce
New horticultural/ agricultural crops (not
cereals/potatoes/fodder)
Gardening services
Novel livestock
Bees
Fish farming
Machinery repairs
Light engineering
Boarding kennels/ cattery
Livestock grooming
Business administration services
Letting buildings for non-agricultural use
Craft work for commercial gain
Other services for commercial gain