Decrease in winter cereals, increase in grain maize and green maize
According to the provisional agricultural results for 2020, the areas of winter wheat and winter barley decreased by respectively 6.2 % and 8.8 % in 2020, after a sharp increase in 2019. However, the area for spring cereals increased (+977 ha for spring wheat and + 1,183 for spring barley). The decrease in cereals was offset by an increase in grain maize and green maize. The total area of these crops increased by about 10,300 ha (after a decrease of nearly 9,000 ha in 2019).
The decrease in the area of sugar beets continued by 1.2 % in 2020. This is due to the decrease in Wallonia, while the area in Flanders remained stable.
The total area of potatoes in Belgium remained at the level of 2019 (-0.5 %), but there was a shift between the regions. The total area decreased by 2.6 % in Flanders, while it increased in Wallonia by 2.2 %. There was also a shift from the area of early potatoes to ware potatoes.
The Belgian cattle population decreased further in May 2020 by 0.8 %. The decrease was due to the decline in Wallonia (-20,498 animals) while the number of bovine animals slightly increased in Flanders, by 2,236 animals. The decrease mainly concerns animals aged 2 and over. Within this age group, there was a decrease in the number of animals for meat production, while the number of dairy cows increased.
The pig population slightly increased by +0.3 % or 19,239 animals in 2020. The number of piglets under 20 kg increased by 2.3 % (+37,177 animals), while fattening pigs decreased by 0.4 % or 18,322 animals. The number of breeding pigs remained unchanged compared to 2019.
Remark
The number of agricultural holdings increased by 1.8 % compared to 2019. The increase is more significant in Flanders than in Wallonia. This increase is due to the fact that an agricultural survey was carried out in 2020. For the first time, horse breeding farms had to be included, as well as holdings maintaining agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition.
The utilised agricultural area increases by 18,152 ha or 1.3 %. This is not new agricultural lands, but existing lands that were not included before. This is mainly temporary and permanent grassland (almost 12,000 ha).