Agriculture and food processing is an important industry in Northern Ireland and the sector accounts for 3.5% of total added value in Northern Ireland’s economy. There are currently 26,100 farm businesses in Northern Ireland, of which only 25% are regarded as large enough to provide full-time employment for one or more persons (based on a standardised labour requirement). Farm numbers have been declining at an annual average rate of 1.9 % over the past 10 years and the size of the agricultural labour force has been reducing at an annual average rate of 2.1% over the last 10 years.
POM - Agriculture 2009