§ Mr. Nicholsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dairy farmers in Northern Ireland with fewer than 40 cows have left the industry in the last 12 months.
§ Dr. BoysonThis information is not readily available. The agricultural census shows that the overall number of farms with dairy cows fell by 88 from 8,171 to 8,083 between June 1983 and June 1984. The number of dairy herds of less than 40 cows fell from 5,341 to 5,207, a decline of 134, but this cannot be taken as the number of farmers who have left the industry; some herds may have expanded, others may have contracted from higher size groups.