asked the Taoiseach the total acreage under (i) barley; (ii) wheat; (iii) grassland; (iv) other cereals; (v) potatoes; (vi) vegetables; and (vii) other root crops during 1983.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Statistics.
262.
The latest year for which complete information is available is 1980 and the data for that year, together with provisional estimates for those items for which information is available for 1983, are set out in the following table.
|
Crop |
1980 |
1983 (Provisional) |
|
000 st. acres |
||
|
Barley |
905.2 |
751.9 |
|
Wheat |
131.0 |
146.5 |
|
Other Cereals |
67.2 |
: |
|
of which Oats |
(60.6) |
(54.3) |
|
Grassland¹ |
12,727.2 |
: |
|
Potatoes |
102.7 |
79.9 |
|
Vegetables |
8.3 |
: |
|
Other Root and Green |
154.3 |
: |
: = Not available.
¹Area under hay, pasture and rough grazing.
263.
asked the Taoiseach the number of farms currently owned by unmarried farmers.
The information available is that obtained from the Census of Population and relates to a classification by marital status of persons who indicated that their principal occupation was "farmer". The latest information available is for 1971 and is set out in the following table. The corresponding 1981 data will be available this year.
Number of farmers classified by sex and marital status — 1971 Census of Population.
|
Males |
Females |
Persons |
|
|
Married |
99,822 |
1,632 |
101,454 |
|
Single |
56,508 |
4,770 |
61,278 |
|
Widowed |
6,650 |
12,245 |
18,895 |
|
Total |
162,980 |
18,647 |
181,627 |
264.
asked the Taoiseach the number of part time farmers in the country.
The information available is that derived from the June 1980 Farm Structures Sample Survey and relates to estimates of the number of farming landholders classified by the estimated time devoted to work on the farm in the 12 month period ended 31 May 1980.
Following is the information:
Number of farming landholders classified by annual work unit (AWU) class in 1980.
|
AWU Class |
No. of farming landholders |
|
Less than 0.5 |
58,500 |
|
0.5 and less than 0.75 |
21,800 |
|
0.75 and less than 1.0 |
30,700 |
|
1.0 or more |
111,600 |
|
Total |
222,600 |
Notes:
(i) The annual work unit (AWU) was taken as 2,200 hours for the 12 month period.
(ii) The estimates relate to farming landholders with at least one hectare of crops and pasture (including rough grazing) being farmed.
(iii) The information on AWU is based on the landholder's own estimate of the number of weeks worked and the average hours worked per week during the 12 months ended May 1980.
265.
asked the Taoiseach the number of farmers over the age of 55 who currently own and manage farms; the total acreage they occupy; and the average size of the holding in their possession.
The most recent information available is that obtained from the June 1977 Farm Structures Sample Survey. In the following table estimates are given in respect of landholders who were farming at least one hectare (2.47 statute acres) of crops and pasture (including rough grazing) at the time of the survey.
|
Age |
Number of farming landholders |
Total area of crops and pasture farmed |
Average area of crops and pasture farmed |
|
Statute Acres |
|||
|
Less than 55 years |
110,200 |
6,551,600 |
59.4 |
|
55 years and over |
113,800 |
5,804,600 |
51.0 |
|
Total |
224,000 |
12,356,200 |
55.2 |
Note: Area farmed as shown in the table relates to area owned less area let to others plus area taken.
Similar information from the June 1980 Farm Structures Sample Survey will be available later this year.