Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the pig meat, beef, lamb dairy and poultry sectors have grown in each of the past eight years to date, the degree to which the number of producers has fluctuated over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56258/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Sectoral performance over any given time horizon is subject to a multitude of factors. These include supply and demand dynamics, exchange rate fluctuations, producer margins, variations in input costs, the macroeconomic climate generally, trading conditions in individual commodities and market opportunities arising from international agreements. In the case of the dairy sector, production is, of course, constrained by quotas.

The relative size, importance and contribution of the various livestock sectors to the domestic economy can best be understood by reference to data on production volume taken in conjunction with export volume and value. Data on these variables for the relevant period is presented in tabular format hereunder. Full year data for 2012 is not yet available.

Statistics in respect of producer numbers are compiled by the CSO according to standardised EU definitions in agricultural censuses which are held at decennial intervals. Table 5 below contains relevant data extracted from the two most recently published Census of Agriculture reports. Additional Department data on the number of active milk producers in each year of the period 2004 to 2011 is also provided in Table 6.

Table 1

Dairy Sector: Usable Dairy Production (’000 tonnes)

Source: CSO Database – Dairy Products Supply Balance

Table 2

Meat Sector: Gross Indigenous Production (’000 tonnes (carcass equivalent)

Source: CSO Meat Supply Balance – various years .

Table 3

Export Volume for Dairy & Meat Sectors (’000 tonnes)

Source: * CSO External Trade data (Intrastat survey); otherwise Meat Supply Balance - various years.

Table 4

Export Values for Dairy & Meat Sectors (€m)

Source:* CSO External Trade (Intrastat) data; otherwise Bord Bia Meat Review & Outlook.

** No Bord Bia data available before 2009. †Revised Bord Bia figures for beef, pigmeat & sheepmeat.

Table 5

Number of farms classified by type of farm

Source: CSO

For analytical purposes, farms are classified in Census of Agriculture results as one of eight farm types. These types represent the primary areas of specialisation in Irish farming. They are derived from groupings applied to a detailed EU farm typology classification system and are based on the relative economic importance of the various lines of agricultural activity carried out on each farm.

Table 6

Active Milk Producers

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine