Sample survey of agriculture and forestry, 2003, preliminary figures

The number of holdings is steadily decreasing, and in 2003 there were half as many farms as in 1979. The number of farms decreased by 2 600 each year from 1979 to 1989, corresponding to a decline of 2.1 per cent per year. From 1989 to 1999 the decline in the number of farms was 2 900 per year, an average annual decline of 2.9 per cent. Since 1999, the decline has been even more evident, and during the last four years 3 000 farms have been settled each year. This corresponds to an average decline of 4.2 per cent per year.

From 1979 to 2003, the total area of agricultural land in use increased with about ten per cent to 10.46 million decares. The average size of farms increased from 76 decares in 1979 to 178 decares in 2003.

Increasing number of large farms

In 2003 the number of holdings with at least 500 decares of agricultural area amounted to 2 300. Corresponding figure for 1999 was 1 600. 35 per cent of the farms had less than 100 decares of agricultural area in 2003, while the figure for 1999 was 44 per cent.

Since 1999 one out of six holdings has been shut down. In 1999, 70 700 farms with agricultural activity were recorded, the corresponding figure for 2003 was 58 800. The greatest decline in the number of farms since 1999 has been in the counties of Finnmark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder, where the number dropped by about 25 per cent. The smallest decline in the number of farms has occurred in the county of Rogaland, with 8 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Holdings. 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999-2003*
• Table 2 Holdings, by size of agricultural area in use and county
• Table 3 Agricultural area in use, by size of holding and county. Decares
• Table 4 Agricultural area per holding, by county. 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2000-2003*. Decares