The average cultivated area of holdings in all over Germany 2013 was 58.6 ha.
The situation of the agricultural sector in Germany is characterized by very low economic
importance and a heterogeneous agricultural structure. A particularly strong distinction is
observed with regard to farm size between the former Eastern and Western German states
(Länder). There is a noticeable reduction in intensification of land use from the north to
the south of Germany. When considering the Länder (federal states) separately the largest
holdings are located in the eastern states.
The average farm size in 2013 in Mecklenburg-
Western Pomerania was 285.3ha followed by Saxony-Anhalt with 279.2ha and
Brandenburg with 243.3ha. In contrast to these large farming areas in the so-called ‘new’
federal states, the average cultivated area of holdings in the Western Länder especially the
Southern part of Germany are relatively small. For example in the Northern state Lower
Saxony the average farm size is 65.6ha while in Bavaria as well as Baden-Württemberg it
is approximately 34ha.
Consequently, the total number of holdings of these three states
represents 60% of Germany. Therefore in the new federal states the agricultural
businesses are fewer but larger whereas relatively small holdings are mostly located in the
western and southern states (DESTATIS 2014b).
EU Forecast
euf:ba18h:6/nws-01