Provisional agricultural results 2019
According to the provisional agricultural results for 2019, the number of farm holdings and the utilised agricultural area have remained stable in Flanders and Wallonia compared to 2018. These results were obtained by coupling administrative data for crops, cattle and pigs to Statbel’s agricultural register.
The area of winter cereals in Belgium has increased by 6 %, i.e. +13,957 ha compared to 2018. In Flanders, the increase of winter cereals is offset by the decrease of the area for grain maize (-10.6 % or -5,124 ha).
The total area of grain maize and green maize has dropped by 8,061 ha in Flanders, while it has only decreased by 928 ha in Wallonia.
The area of sugar beets has decreased by 7.5 % as a result of the liberalisation of the sugar market, so that the price of sugar follows that of the world market. Consequently, fewer farmers are inclined to grow sugar beets.
However, the acreage used for the production of potatoes has increased by 5.5 %, or 5,133 ha. This increase is entirely due to the increase in the area under cultivation in Flanders, whereas it remained the same in Wallonia. In Flanders, both early potatoes and ware potatoes have increased (by +25.6 % and +7.1 %, respectively).
The acreage used for the production of dried pulses has sharply increased (+21.6 %). The increase was the same in both regions.
The cattle population has decreased by 1.8 % to 2.4 million animals in May 2019 compared to 2018. The decrease is the same in both regions. The number of dairy cows has increased in Flanders (+1.8 %) and decreased in Wallonia (-1.2 %).
The pig population remained stable compared to 2018 (-0.2 %). The number of piglets and pigs from 20 to 50 kg has increased (by 2 % and 0.3 %, respectively, or almost 34,700 animals in total), as well as gilts not yet covered (+6.5 %, i.e. by about 2,300 animals). However, the number of fattening pigs of 50 kg or more have decreased by 1.2 % (-34,900 animals).