Agricultural activity concentrates into larger holdings

The number of agricultural holdings has decreased rapidly since 2001. The decrease has occurred mostly on account of smaller holdings. In 2007, the number of small holdings with less than 10 hectares was 13,500. Though their number has decreased by one third during the two years, their proportion was still 58% of the total number of holdings in the previous year. The number of medium-sized holdings with 10–50 hectares has also decreased. At the same time the number of larger holdings with more than 50 hectares increased. In 2007, their number was 2,600 or 11% of the total number of holdings.

Different from the number of holdings, the agricultural area has not decreased. In 2007, the size of agricultural area together with the permanent grassland not used for production purposes but maintained in good agricultural and environmental conditions was 906,800 hectares. Almost half of the agricultural area is rented land. The average agricultural area per holding was 39 hectares, which is 30% more than two years ago. So the changes of the land area among holdings have continued in 2005–2007. The agricultural area of small and medium-sized holdings has decreased by 13,000 hectares. The largest proportion of the agricultural area belongs to large holdings. In 2007, 77% of the total agricultural area was at their disposal, which is 91,000 hectares more than two years ago. The average agricultural area of a large holding was 270 hectares.

The number of holdings with agricultural animals has decreased by 25% when compared to 2005. At the same time the number of cattle has decreased only by 3%. There has been a considerable increase in the average number of livestock and poultry as well as in the proportion of large holdings engaged in livestock farming. The average number of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry was 34, 34, 5, 128 and 207, respectively. 71% of the dairy cattle were in holdings with 100 or more dairy cows (68% in 2005). 90% of the pigs were in the holdings with 1,000 or more pigs and 92% of the poultry in the holdings with 1,000 or more birds (in 2005 — 86% and 89%, respectively).

The data are based on the results of the Farm Structure Survey which is conducted on the basis of the harmonised methodology by statistical institutions in all EU Member States. Statistics Estonia has conducted this survey in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. The survey of 2007 has received funding from the European Union. According to the methodology of the survey the agricultural holding is a unit which has at least one hectare of agricultural area or where agricultural products are produced mainly for sale. From 2007 the permanent grassland which is not used for production purposes, is only maintained in good agricultural and environmental conditions and is eligible for single area payment is included into agricultural area.