Magherafelt Area Plan 2015: Draft Plan - The Planning Service

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING
Agriculture
Agriculture is the predominant land use within the District and
employed 3135 people on 1685 holdings in 2001. Approximately
70% of farms in the District are involved in cattle and sheep
farming. Dairy farming is also important with 285 holdings.
The District currently has one of the lowest number of farms
producing cereals, general crops or involved in horticulture
in Northern Ireland occupying only 4% of the total holdings,
whereas it has the highest number of mixed farms.
Although there are no major agri-businesses within the District,
there are a number of small businesses employing up to 10
people. These range from light agricultural engineering to food
processing.
Farm size within the District tends to be small with 55% of
farms classed as very small by the Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development (DARD (NI)) under European standards
and only 1% described as large.
In common with the rest of Northern Ireland, farm incomes
in the District are falling in real terms, leading to an increased
demand for alternative employment on and off the farm. The
Department accepts the need for farmers to diversify into nonagricultural
activities in the context of prevailing planning policy
to supplement their farming income and DARD (NI) has a range
of grant assistance to support this process.
Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) are areas where the natural
characteristics, including geology, altitude and climate, make
it difficult for farmers to compete. However, within these
areas, agriculture is the main factor shaping and maintaining
valuable landscapes and habitats. Support is paid to farmers in
LFAs so that society can continue to enjoy these benefits. LFAs
are divided into Disadvantaged and Severely Disadvantaged
Areas. 64% of farms in the District fall within LFAs and 27% are
categorized as Severely Disadvantaged Areas.
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